UC-NRLF 


B    3    33fl    Efl? 


JOURNAL 


OF  THE 


ESSEX    COUNTY 


NATURAL  HISTORY  SOCIETY; 


CONTAINING 


VARIOUS   COMMUNICATIONS 


TO    THE    SOCIETY, 


SALEM: 

PRINTED  FOR  THK  SOCIETY  BY  WM,  IVES  &  CO 

1852. 


HI 


ear 

d 


CONTENTS, 


Page, 

AN  Address  delivered  before  the  Essex  County  Natural  History  Society 
on  its  Second  Anniversary,  June  15,  1836.  By  JOHN  LEWIS 
RUSSELL 

Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  Society.      .....  2& 

Constitution.  2C 

By-Laws 28 

Officers  of  the  Society  for  A.  D.  1833  to  1837.         .        .        .        .  82 

Catalogue  of  the  Library,  A.  D.  1837 33- 

Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the  Shells  found  in  the  Limits  of  Essex  County, 
Massachusetts  :  with  references  to  descriptions  and  figures.  By  JOHN 
LEWIS  RUSSELL 47 

^Notice  of  the   occurrence   of  specimens  of  Vespertilio  pruinosus,   SAY. 

Hoary  Sat.    By  H.  WHEATLAND.    ...  7G 

A  Sketch  of  the  Geology  and  Mineralogy  of  the  Southern  part  of  Essex 
County,  in  Massachusetts  :  communicated  to  the  Essex  County  Na- 
tural History  Society,  April  24,  1839.  By  WILLIAM  PHESCOTT.  78 

Two  Species  of  Musci.     By  JOHN  LEWIS  RUSSELL.          ...        92 

Remarks  on  Hyla  (Femoralis)  Pickeringii  observed  in  the  North  Parish 

of  Danvers.    By  ANDREW  NICHOLS. 9$ 

Notice  of  rare  plants  :  with  a  description  of  a  (supposed)  variety  of  Clado- 

nia  Uncialis.    By  JOHN  LEWIS  RUSSELL.          ....        96 

Remarks  upon  Scarabseus  Goliatus  and  upon  other  African  Beetles  allied 
to  it.  By  THADDEUS  WILLIAM  HARRIS 101 

Retrospect  of  some  of  the  Shells  found  in  Essex  County,       .        .        .      110 

Occurrence  of  Scaphiopus  solitarius  in  Essex  County;  v;ith  some  notice  of 
its  history,  habits,  &c.  By  ANDREW  NICHOLS.  .  .  .113 


iv.  Contents. 

Observations  on  the  Polytrichacenc :  with  a  notice  of  some  ppccios  occur- 
ring in  Essex  County,  Massachusetts.     Dy  JOHN  LEWIS  RUSSELL.  11? 

The  Danvers  Bowlder  or  Ship  Rock.  120 

Minute  PoJythalamous  Shells  occurring  on  the  coast  of   Maine,    New 

England.    By  JOHN  LEWIS  RUSSELL,        .....  121 

Notice  of  several  fishes  of  raro  occurrence.     By  II.  WHEAT-LAND.  122 

Further  notice  of  raro  plants.    By  JOHN  LEWIS  RUSSELL.  125 

Conspectus  of  Shells  found  in  Essex  County,  &c,  126 

Index,  134 


JOURNAL 


ESSEX    COUNTY 


50 

fLJ~ 
VOL.  I.— NO.  I. 


SALEM: 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  SOCIETY,  BY 
W.  and  S.  B.  IVES, 

and  sold  by 

IVES    <fc    PUTNAM,    198    ESSEX    STREET. 

M  DCCC  XXXTI, 


ADDRESS 


DELIVERED    BEFORE    THE 


ESSEX    COUNTY    NATURAL   HISTORY   SOCIETY, 


SECOND    ANNIVERSARY, 


Jute    IS,    1836. 


BY    JOHN   LEWIS   RUSSELL,  A.  M., 

PROFESSOR  OF  BOTANY  AND  VEGETABLE  PHYSIOLOGY  TO  THE  MASSACHU- 
SETTS   HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETY,    ETC. 


SALEM      OBSERVER      PRESS. 


ADDRESS. 


Mr.  President,  and  Members  of  the 

Essex  County  Natural  History  Society, — 

THE  duty  of  appearing  before  you  on  this 
occasion,  to  deliver  the  first  anniversary  Address  of 
our  County  Society  for  the  promotion  of  the  study  of 
Natural  History,  I  accept  with  pleasure.  Interested 
in  the  same  common  object,  I  hail  with  delight  the 
present  prospect  of  success,  and  anticipate  with  in- 
creasing confidence  our  future  results. 

As  in  some  proposed  expedition,  or  private  and 
solitary  ramble  in  pursuit  of  the  subjects  of  our  study, 
we  occasionally  cast  a  look  behind,  rejoicing  that  we 
have  passed  the  rough  road, — the  dusty  and  beaten 
high  way — the  weary  hill,  which  intercepted  our 
scene  of  enjoyment,  and  then  gaze  with  admiration 
on  the  extended  prospect,  and  smiling  landscape  before 
us — or  quietly  sitting  down  for  a  while,  consider 
what  we  may  yet  gain  and  what  new  pleasure  awaits, 
so  in  the  present  success  and  future  prospects  of  this 
Society,  we  must  congratulate  ourselves,  on  what  has 
been  done  and  be  stimulated  to  effect  still  more. 
Engaged  with  a  sympathetic  and  fraternal  feeling  in 
the  same  studies,  though  in  different  departments, 
2 


according  to  different  inclinations  or  taste,  we  have 
assembled  on  the  second  anniversary  under  auspicious 
and  interesting  circumstances. 

It  was  during  the  year  of  1833  that  some  unusual 
attention  to  the  pursuit  of  Natural  Science  seemed  to 
agitate  the  minds  of  several  of  our  citizens.  Aided  by 
the  kind  suggestions  and  assistance  of  others  in  our 
neighborhood,  who  were  well  known  as  decided  friends 
to  our  cause,  a  train  of  circumstances  was  laid,  which 
resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  present  Society, 
just  before  the  clcse  of  that  year,  on  the  eighteenth 
day  of  December. 

On  the  sixteenth  day  of  April,  1834,  the  Society 
held  a  meeting  in  Topsfield,  at  which  was  a  conside- 
rable attendance  of  the  friends  of  Natural  History, 
from  the  vicinity.  Several  plates  of  Audubon's  mag- 
nificent work  on  the  Birds  of  America,  were  exhibited, 
besides  many  prepared  specimens.  The  season,  the 
weather,  the  day  were  auspicious.  It  seemed  as  if 
Nature  herself  was  smiling  on  our  prospects,  and  in- 
viting us  to  her  study  and  acquaintance.  The  fields 
and  meadows  had  assumed  a  livery  of  beauty,  the 
feathered  choristers  of  heaven  were  filling  the  air  with 
harmony — the  early  vernal  and  delicate  flowers  of  the 
lovely  Hepatica,  and  pure  Sanguinaria,  were  blooming 
under  our  feet,  or  assisted  to  adorn  our  tables,  and 
add  to  our  delight. 

By  the  liberality  of  one  of  our  Vice  Presidents*  the 
Society  was  generously  presented  with  a  loan  of  all 
the  then  published  engravings,  of  our  American  Orni- 
thologist,f  for  public  exhibition,  to  aid  its  funds. 

*  William  Oakes,  Ipswich.        t  J.  J.  Audubon. 


From  the  middle  of  May  following,  for  a  few  weeks, 
•(hey  were  opened  to  the  public  of  this  city  and  vicinity. 
Donations  of  value,  in  every  department  of  study, 
were  received.  It  was  about  this  time  that  horticul- 
ture and  floriculture,  the  junior  and  accompanying 
arts  of  natural  scientific  knowledge,  were  permitted  to 
lend  their  aid.  Fifteen  weekly  exhibitions  of  what- 
ever was  rare  and  beautiful  from  the  gardens  of  the 
citizens,  were  held,  during  the  rest  of  the  season. 
Public  curiosity  and  regard  seemed  awrakened  in  our 
favor.  On  the  opening  of  the  next  year,  arrangements 
were  made  for  the  continuance  of  such  floral  displays. 
By  the  kindness  of  our  floricultural  friends,  our  flower 
stands  were  rendered  highly  attractive  and  splendidly 
conspicuous.  Amid  the  various  representatives  of 
the  kingdoms  of  Nature,  were  the  choice  productions 
of  human  ingenuity  co-operating  with  her  in  their 
mutual  employments.  The  gorgeous  Dahlia,  the  ever 
charming,  lovely  Rose,  the  rich  and  variegated  Tulip, 
and  other  prominent  individuals  of  the  Liliaceous 
family,  were  blended  in  unison  with  the  simpler,  yet 
elegant  flower  of  our  native  fields.  The  splendid 
Magnolias  of  China  vied  with  the  fragrant  and  grace- 
ful co-species*  of  our  own  neighborhood.  The  deli- 
cious productions  of  Pomona,  were  contrasted  with 
the  more  mild  and  humble  offerings  of  Tellus  and 
Ceres. 

The  commencement  of  the  present  year  finds  us  in 
the  spacious  and  commodious  halls,  which  we  now 
occupy,  furnished  with  elegant  and  useful  cabinets 

*  The  most  northern  limits  of  the  only  species  of  the  White  Bay  or  Small 
Magnolia  (M.  Glauca)  found  in  New  England,  are  the  swamps  of  Cape  Ann. 


8 

and  valuable  specimens.     During  the  last  session  of 
the  Legislature,  we  have  become  an  incorporated  body. 

Among  several  other  specimens  of  the  higher-order 
of  animated  beings,  we  have  in  our  possession  that 
curious  and  anomalous  inhabitant  of  New  South 
Wales,  the  Ornithorhynchus  para doxus.  BLUMENB. 

Sixty  specimens  of  birds,  mostly  native,  with  a 
corresponding  suite  of  nests  and  eggs  occupy  their 
proper  station. 

Rare  and  elegant  species  of  Testudines ;  foreign 
and  native  Reptilia ;  the  commencement  of  a  fine 
cabinet  of  Conchology,  and  another  of  Mineralogy  ; 
the  rich  foreign,  with  the  more  humble  native  species 
of  the  insect  world,  and  the  prepared  treasures  of  the 
vegetable  kingdom,  may  be  found  in  their  several 
compartments.  Comparative  anatomy  has  not  been 
unoccupied  in  its  curious  researches  ;  and  the  Library, 
consisting  of  an  hundred  volumes  of  elementary  and 
higher  appropriate  reading,  is  furnished  with  a  pros- 
pective view  of  usefulness. 

Thus  in  the  brief  space  of  scarcely  more  than  two 
years,  a  Society,  extensive  in  numbers  and  embracing 
in  its  precincts  a  large  and  flourishing  County,  has 
risen  from  the  united  and  zealous  endeavors  of  a  few 
individuals,  to  its  present  condition.  Without  a  spe- 
cimen of  any  kind,  destitute  of  a  single  work  on 
Natural  Science,  with  no  endowment  or  pecuniary 
aid  at  that  time  ;  and  now,  with  an  increasing  list  of 
members,  our  shelves  and  cabinets  enriched  with  val- 
uable acquisitions  and  a  spur  given  to  a  more  general 
taste  for  such  studies.  We  owe  much  to  the  kind- 
ness of  our  friends  for  our  rarer  and  valuable  foreign 


specimens,  some  of  which  are  seldom  to  be  found  in 
the  collections  of  older  Societies.  We  hope  still,  to 
merit  such  tokens  of  their  interest  in  our  behalf  and 
in  the  general  cause  of  science.  A  casual  glance  at 
our  cabinets,  will  however,  convince  the  observer,  that 
while  foreign  seas  and  climates  have  contributed  to 
our  acquired  treasures,  the  no  less  interesting  though 
more  neglected  department  of  Nature  at  home,  have 
not  been  disregarded.  This  is  as  it  should  be.  The 
primary  design  of  a  Society  like  our's  is  the  intention 
to  direct  the  mind  of  every  lover  of  science  and  truth, 
to  a  study  of  those  glorious  objects  of  Creation,  which 
are  every  where  around  and  about  him.  How  many 
are  those,  whose  wayward  and  idle  curiosity  is  un- 
duly awakened  to  the  merest  insignificance  of  misspent 
human  industry,  and  totally  blind  to  the  unsurpassed, 
unrivalled  workmanship  of  Nature's  plastic  hand. 
How  many  too,  with  listless  and  indifferent  eye,  can 
pass  over  and  heedlessly  tread  down  the  gorgeous 
flower  of  their  native  fields — and  yet  gaze  with  pre- 
tended admiration  at  some  frail  production  of  a  more 
distant  clime  !  What  curiosity  is  awakened  at  the 
meanest  shell,  or  the  smallest  fragment  of  animated 
nature  from  distant  countries,  while  far  more  curious 
and  wonderful  objects  are  cast  up  by  every  returning 
wave  on  the  neighboring  seacoast,  or  may  be  gathered 
on  the  smooth  and  pebbly  margin  of  many  a  broad 
and  extended  lake,  or  the  sedgy  border  of  some  crys- 
tal pond  !  What  inestimable  value  does  a  shapeless 
and  rude  fragment  of  some  utensil  of  semibarbarous 
nations,  a  handful  of  dust  from  the  site  of  some  over- 
thrown and  almost  forgotten  city,  the  most  useless 


10 

and  veriest  insignificant  substance  of  ancient  art  and 
of  ancient  pride  possess,  while  the  never  changing^ 
imperishable,  ever  eloquent,  constantly  useful,  and 
always  instructive  types  and  originals  of  Creation's 
first  Existence  are  overlooked  and  despised  !  These 
tell  of  the  majesty  and  excellence,  the  deep  thrilling, 
instructive  voice  of  Nature,  to  the  reflecting  and 
thinking  mind;  those — that  individuals  of  our  own 
species,  once  lived — and  died — and  passed  away  into 
comparative  oblivion.  These  unfold  to  us  leaf  after 
leaf,  of  those  constantly  instructive  pages,  which  are 
written  on  the  heavens  and  engraven  on  the  earth, — 
while  those  only  assure  us,  that  the  same  operations 
of  the  natural  world  are  every  where  the  same  in 
mode  and  effect.  These  exhibit  to  our  admiring  eye, 
the  inimitable  perfection  of  Creative  Power, — and 
those,  only  the  extent  of  human  industry  and  skill. 

It  is  with  pleasure  then,  that  we  perceive  the  efforts 
and  studies  of  our  Society  principally  directed  to  the 
natural  productions  of  our  own  immediate  vicinity, 
though  by  no  means  regardless  of  other  and  more  dis- 
tant. Perhaps  few  are  aware,  how  wide  is  the  field, 
not  only  of  observation,  but  of  actual  discovery  imme- 
diately around  them.  If  the  more  obvious  may  be 
already  familiar,  the  patient  and  curious  eye,  and  the 
constant  untiring  observation,  is  rewarded  in  some  un- 
expected manner.  Apart  from  the  pleasure  and  value 
of  a  general  knowledge  of  any  branch  of  science, 
which  the  labor  and  ingenuity,  the  research  and  talent, 
of  others  may  have  prepared  for  any  one's  more  ready 
acquisition, — such  is  the  amazing  extent  of  inquiry, 
which  can  constantly  employ  the  mind,  such  the  mys- 


11 

teries  of  the  laws  of  organic  matter, — it  were  scarcely 
possible,  that  some,  new  and  hitherto  unobserved 
truth  should  not  be  unfolded.  Hasty  and  casual  ob- 
servation is  led  to  suppose  that  little  remains  to  be  ac- 
complished after  the  labors  of  some  devoted  and  emi- 
nent student  in  a  particular  department  of  research  ; 
but  it  needs  only  a  more  familiar  acquaintance  with 
the  subject  to  expose  the  error.  With  what  fidelity 
and  almost  veneration  have  the  grossest  and  most 
anomalous  mistakes  been  cherished  and  maintained  in 
the  very  opposition  to  reason  and  observation  !  Nat- 
ural Science  in  common  with  every  other  branch  of 
human  knowledge  is  yet,  too  much  indebted  to  the 
dulness  and  obstinacy,  the  theories  rather  than  practi- 
cal experiments  of  its  advocates  and  disciples,  for  the 
most  palpable  errors.  The  pages  of  misnamed  treatises 
on  the  subject,  are  too  often  burdened  with  idle 
speculations  on  idle  themes.  It  becomes  us  then  par- 
ticularly, not  to  err  on  such  grounds,  preferring  rather 
a  single  correct  and  personal  observation  to  a  multi- 
tude of  fictitious,  though  recorded,  opinions. 

The  pursuit  of  Natural  History  is  in  this  point  of 
view,  entirely  in  the  power  and  at  the  option  of  every 
one.  Well  would  it  be,  were  the  first  and  oftentimes 
feeble  efforts, — feeble,  because  unaided  and  unsup- 
ported by  the  sympathy  of  kindred  spirits, — of  many 
a  curious  observer  of  Nature  rendered  available  and  of 
utility  to  himself  and  others.  But  the  existence  of 
the  present  circumstances  may  be  in  a  great  measure 
attributed  to  the  popular  system  of  education  and 
mode  of  thinking.  The  almost  intuitive  love  for,  and 
admiration  in  such  studies,  with  the  young,  by  some 


12 

sad  and  lamentable  error  is  discouraged  and  frustrated. 
It  requires  a  strong  and  unconquerable  predilection,  an 
independence  of  action,  or  fortuitous  and  prosperous 
circumstances,  for  one  to  become  a  Naturalist.  The 
sneer  of  the  unthinking,  the  "  world's  dread  laugh," 
the  fear  of  singularity  has  deadened  and  extinguished 
many  a  bright  spark  of  genius  and  talent  for  such 
studies,  which  fostered  and  cherished,  might  have  serv- 
ed to  illume  and  enlighten  and  benefit  a  more  or  less 
extended  sphere.  One  of  the  most  prominent  objects 
of  this  Society  was  to  render  an  essential  service  to  the 
cause  of  science  by  extending  that  sympathy  to  such 
enterprises,  which  they  so  much  need,  and  to  promote 
a  more  general  attention  to  the  importance  of  the  sub- 
ject, especially  among  the  friends  of  education,  through- 
out the  County.  It  is  hoped,  that  to  a  certain  extent, 
its  success  has  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  scheme,  and 
we  could  wish  that  the  zeal  and  spirit  manifested 
throughout  the  sphere  of  its  operations  might  be  mul- 
tiplied and  increased. 

The  common  observation  that  a  pursuit  of  Natural 
History  is  rendered  difficult  and  tedious  through  the 
technicalities  of  science,  is  neither  founded  in  truth 
nor  is  the  result  of  observation  and  experience.  The 
nomenclature  to  every  branch  of  human  knowledge  is 
necessarily  more  or  less  difficult  to  acquire  and  under- 
stand. The  Natural  sciences  are  no  more  singular  in 
this  respect  than  other  sciences  or  arts.  A  slight  ac- 
quaintance with  philology  enables  any  one  to  acquire 
all  that  is  needful  in  the  perception  and  comprehension 
of  scientific  terms.  Nor  is  even  this  necessary,  though 
desirable.  Nature  is  not  read  in  books  and  systems, 


13 

but  from  her  own  productions.  An  ardent  admirer  of 
her  operations,  an  observer  of  her  phenomena,  a  stu- 
dent of  her  mysteries,  in  fine,  a  genuine  naturalist, — - 
one  of  practical  observation,  arid  of  sound,  solid  know- 
ledge may  seldom  or  never  have  occasion  to  consult 
other  than 

"  books  in  the  running  brooks, 
"  Sermons  in  stones  and  good  in  every  thing." 

The  pleasing  volume  of  the  "  Natural  History  of  Sel- 
borne"  has  long  held  its  character  of  general  interest 
and  value,  and  displays  the  results  of  attentive  obser- 
vation with  slight  materials  of  operation  and  appar- 
ently limited  means  of  acquiring  scientific  truth.  Still 
later,  the  deservedly  popular  work  of  the  delightful 
"  Journal  of  a  Naturalist,"  confirms  us  in  our  asser- 
tion, that  the  technicalities  of  science,  are  neither 
absolutely  necessary  to  its  study,  nor  serious  objec- 
tions to  its  pursuit.  Scarcely  a  subject  is  there  to  be 
found — from  the  gigantic  oak  of  centuries'  duration, 
and  monarch  of  the  hills,  to  the  elegant  and  fugacious 
mushroom  of  a  few  hours  existence — from  the  exten- 
sive operations  of  agriculture  to  the  minute  detail  of 
its  younger  sister,  horticulture  ; — quadruped,  bird, 
insect, — their  admirable  economy  and  unsurpassed 
beauty, — falling  under  the  cognizance  of  a  limited 
field  of  observation,  which  is  not  rendered  in  these 
fascinating  pages  the  instance  of  some  interesting 
consideration.  Who  in  reading  the  simple  and  inar- 
tificial description  of  Audubon  on  the  feathered  deni- 
zens of  our  Western  world,  and  has  marked  the 
enthusiasm,  which  infancy  exhibited,  and  matured 
years  have  not  served  to  diminish  ;  has  been  led  to 
3 


14 

suppose  that  other  than  practical,  individual  observa- 
tion and  a  genuine  love  for  his  pursuits  could  have 
enabled  him  to  present  to  the  admiring  world  a  spe- 
cimen of  his  genius  and  industry.  How  many,  who 
have  read  his  "  Biography  of  the  Birds  of  America," 
cast  a  glance  at  or  for  a  moment  think  of  the  accom- 
panying and  purely  scientific  descriptions.  They  for- 
get in  the  admiration  of  the  naturalist,  the  precision 
of  his  favorite  science.  Who,  that  peruses  the  no 
less  artless  and  beautiful  essays  on  the  same  subject 
in  the  works  of  Alexander  Wilson,  would  fain  per- 
suade himself,  that  the  pioneer  of  American  Ornitho- 
logy was  an  humble  individual  of  ordinary  talent  and 
acquirements,  and  that  by  industry,  perseverance,  in- 
domitable zeal,  and  sincere  love  of  his  early  predilec- 
tions, he  claimed  the  meed  of  fame  awarded  him. 

But  while  in  this  manner,  endeavoring  to  justify 
and  promote  a  general  study  of  Natural  History,  by 
showing  the  facility  of  its  pursuit ;  still  we  do  not 
wish  to  depreciate  the  great  value  of  system  and  or- 
der. Could  we  remove  the  supposed  difficulty,  which 
deters  many  from  attempting  to  acquaint  themselves 
with  the  subject,  the  result  is  not  to  be  feared.  That, 
is  not  only  a  truly  beneficent  plan  of  Providence,  but 
in  its  extended  operations  constitutes  a  glorious  fea- 
ture in  the  human  character,  which  induces  a  farther 
search  and  constancy  increasing  desire  for  knowledge, 
from  the  pleasure  and  benefit  arising  from  that  already 
acquired.  On  studies  so  extensive,  I  may  almost 
say,  illimitable,  the  mind  never  can  have  a  moment 
for  cessation  to  its  improvement.  Ten  years  of  de- 


15 

voted  study  to  the  minute  and  microscopic  infusorial 
animals,  enabled  Ehrenberg  to  discover  the  most 
wonderful  and  surprising  features  in  the  external  and 
internal  anatomy  of  their  systems.  Imperceptible  to 
the  unaided  vision,  yet  peopling  with  myriads  the 
liquid  drop  of  water  and  inhabiting  almost  every  form 
of  matter,  we  were  ignorant  of  the  extent  of  their  ac- 
tive being,  until  the  microscope  revealed  both  their 
existence  and  economy.  With  motions  as  rapid  as 
thought,  limbs  of  the  most  exquisite  form  and  propor- 
tions anomalous  to  every  other  body,  which  we  see 
around  us,  they  possess  all  the  necessary  functions 
of  animated  beings  and  astonish  us  with  the  compli- 
cated harmony  of  their  structure.*  In  the  examina- 
tion of  a  single  insect,  Lyonnet  employed  several 
years,  and  yet  left  for  farther  research,  much  to  com- 
plete the  history  of  that  single  individual  species,  in 
the  larva  of  the  Cossus  ligniperda.  FABR  :  he  counted 
above  4000  muscular  bands,  precisely  adapted  to  the 
performance  of  the  required  effects.  To  support  life 
and  perform  all  the  functions  necessary  to  an  insect 
not  exceeding  an  inch  in  length  M.  Straus  enumer- 
ated 872  organs,  composed  of  tracheae,  muscles,  nerves 
and  scale-like  plates :  "  a  spectacle,"  says  Cuvier, 
"  altogether  transporting  by  its  delicacy  and  regular- 
ity. Even  to  the  fine  assortments  of  its  colors,  every 
thing  seems  as  if  made  on  purpose  to  please  the  eye 
of  man,  which  now  perhaps  looked  upon  it  for  the  first 

*  Ehrenberg  has  proved  the  existence  of  Monads,  which  are  not  larger 
than  the  24.000th  of  an  inch.  He  computes  that  500,000,000  of  these  micro- 
scopic animals  may  be  contained  in  the  space  of  a  single  drop  of  water  ; — a 
number  equalling  the  amount  of  human  beings  existing  on  the  surface  of  th« 
globe.  Roget's  Bridgewatcr  Treatise.  Vol.  I.  Introduction  p.  25. 


16 

time  since  the  creation."'  A  short  life,  whose  whole 
extent  was  only  thirty-one  years,  enabled  Bichat  to 
give  that  impulse  to  animal  physiology  and  anatomy, 
which  is  felt  at  the  present  day,  and  opened  a  wide 
field  for  extended  and  eminently  useful  investigations  : 
while  the  prolonged  life  of  the  Father  of  Natural  His- 
tory, though  diligently  employed,  served  only  to  leave 
behind  the  rudiments  of  a  "  System  of  Nature"  which 
would  require  ages  to  perfect.  The  patient  researches 
of  the  illustrious  Cuvier,  on  one  single  subject, 
have  restored  to  form  and  symmetry  the  original  in- 
habitants of  a  former  world,  whose  mighty  relics  are 
scattered  in  profusion  over  the  earth's  surface,  and 
given  us  ideas  of  the  vastness  of  Creative  Power  and 
the  astonishing  results  of  human  industry  with  mental 
application : — while  the  no  less  interesting  studies  of 
Brongniart  are  presenting  to  our  mind's  eye  and  actual 
observation,  the  gigantic  flora  of  those  ages,  which 
bore  in  luxuriant  exuberance  the  mighty  prototypes 
,of  our  now  more  humble  and  pigmy  vegetable  fonns.f 
Half  a  century  of  constant  .experiment  unbaffled  and 
undismayed  by  repeated  and  severe  misfortunes, 
enabled  the  Belgian  horticulturist,  the  distinguished 
Van  Mons,  amidst  the  more  imperative  duties  of  his 
profession  to  establish  important  facts  in  vegetable 

*  Rapport  sur  1'Histoire  Naturelle.  Jardine's  Naturalist's  Library.  En- 
tomology— Vol.  II.  p.  72. 

t  "Some  of  the  fossil  ferns  are  so  similar  to  those  now  growing  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  earth,  that  no  doubt  is  entertained,  that  they  are  generically  the 
same  ;  this  is  the  case  especially  with  the  Equiseta. — Some  of  the  fossil 
Selaginales  are  very  similar  to  the  Lycopodia  of  the  present  day,  such  as 
Lycopoditfsfalcatus,  which  is  an  oolitic  fossil.  But  the  most  numerous  and 
remarkable  Lycopodial  remains,  are  those  gigantic  fossils  called  Lepidoden- 
dra  and  Utodendra,  some  fragments  of  which  measure  nearly  fifty  feet  in 
length  \"—Burnet's  Introd.  to  Botany,  Vol.  1.  pp.  339*341. 


17 

physiology,  the  benefits  of  whose  results  not  only 
Europe,  but  this  country  now  enjoys. 

The  manifest  enthusiasm  and  devotion,  which  we 
see  exhibited  in  these  instances  are  neither  rare  nor 
singular.  And  it  may  be  safely  asserted,  that  a  sim- 
ilar, if  not  so  intense  attention,  would  be  awakened  in 
every  one  who  willingly  entered  the  field  of  study. 
The  very  results  of  such  pursuits  produce  that  desid- 
eratum, which  at  first  was  thought  indispensable. 
Analysis,  observation,  experiment  and  actual  demon- 
stration, all  essential  to  success,  render  the  perception 
and  adoption  of  system  arid  nomenclature  gradually 
easy  of  comprehension. 

It  were  hardly  necessary  for  me  in  this  place  and 
on  this  occasion  to  expatiate  on  the  reasons  for  an 
attention  to  Natural  Science,  or  point  out  the  benefits 
arising  from  its  pursuit.  In  a  community  like  ours,  in 
which  an  attention  to  Agriculture  as  well  as  to  Com- 
merce is  so  extensive,  and  the  spirit  of  sound  practice 
with  judicious  theory  adopted,  the  natural  advantages 
of  some  acquaintance  with  other,  and  not  immediate, 
though  still  connected  subjects,  must  be  apparent. 
Permit  me  therefore  to  congratulate  you  on  the  sym- 
pathy, which  we  have  received  from  the  aid  and  mu- 
tual assistance  of  individuals,  engaged  and  practical 
in  such  employments — employments  the  first,  greatest 
and  most  important  of  civilized  life — whose  names  are 
enrolled  on  our  records  and  whose  talents  and  devotion 
to  the  studies  of  their  choice  are  known  and  acknowl- 
edged. We  trust  that  their  influence  in  co-operation 
with  our  own  will  be  yet  more  widely  felt,  in  giving  a 
new  impulse  to  the  success  and  prosperity  of  Agricultu- 


18 

ral  knowledge — that  the  laws  which  govern  the  tpate- 
rials,  which  are  rendered  subservient  to  the  supply  of 
our  wants  and  every  relative  acquirement,  which 
places  the  very  elements  in  our  power  and  promises  a 
certainty  of  success  may  be  understood  and  compre- 
hended ;  while  the  errors  and  prejudices  which  have 
heretofore  retarded  its  progress  shall  be  banished  and 
destroyed. 

We  hail  with  unfeigned  pleasure  the  prospects  of 
the  Society  from  a  similar  manifestation  of  interest  in 
its  welfare  among  the  artists  and  mechanics  of  this 
city  and  county,  confident  that  mutual  benefits  will 
accrue. 

Ever  forward  in  the  cause  of  good,  the  ladies  have 
engaged  in  our  behalf  with  a  spirit,  which  seems  to 
augur  well  for  our  success.  The  names  of  several  of 

O 

our  city,  who  are  known  as  general  patrons  and  stu- 
dents of  Natural  Science,  we  are  gratified  to  say  are 
already  enrolled  on  our  list  of  members.  We  would 
cordially  and  respectfully  welcome  others  in  following 
so  laudable  an  example.  In  Botany,  a  study  pecu- 
liarly appropriate  to  the  developement  of  refined  sen- 
timents of  innate  purity  and  loveliness  of  character, 
we  find  many  admirers.  The  herbarium  of  the  So- 
ciety is  the  result,  in  a  considerable  degree,  of  the 
kindness  of  one.  Valuable  and  rare  shells  enrich  the 
drawers  of  its  Cabinet  from  the  liberality  of  others. 
Several  private  collections  in  that  elegant  and  delight- 
ful department  Conchology,  remarkable  for  extent  and 
worth,  in  the  possession  of  many  in  this  city,  are  suf- 
ficient proofs  that  Natural  History  has  lost  nothing  of 
its  charms  and  merits,  nor  has  been  overlooked  in  our 


19 

community.  Unable  to  possess  all  that  knowledge 
with  the  molluscous  tribes  of  the  watery  deep,  which 
we  could  wish,  the  study  and  taste,  which  prompts  to 
an  intimate  acquaintance  with  their  singularly  fabri- 
cated habitations  speaks  of  the  delight  experienced  in 
any  contemplation  of  Nature.  The  topics  for  inquiry, 
which  the  fragile  shell  of  some  production  of  the 
waters  may  call  forth,  the  elegance  and  symmetry  of 
form  and  proportion,  the  richness  of  coloring,  mocking 
even  the  rainbow's  tints,  the  value  to  mankind  as  an 
article  of  luxury  or  use,  the  perfection  and  adaptation 

of  means  to  the  end — are  but  a  few  arguments  in  favor 

o 

of  so  rational  and  so  refined  a  taste.  Circumstances 
of  the  greatest  importance,  facts  of  the  most  serious 
moment,  may  be  indebted  to  this  single  branch  of 
knowledge.  The  minutiae  of  Nature  are  truths  in 
themselves,  each  important  in  the  great  scheme.  The 
adventurous  exploits  of  the  little  and  fearless  voyager 
in  its  pellucid  and  pearly  bark,  engaged  the  attention 
of  the  earliest  Naturalist,  and  to  this  day,  though 
speeding  with  outstretched  sail  and  pendent  oars  over 
the  ocean's  surface,  its  real  economy  and  habits  are 
by  no  means  ascertained. 

Thus  the  whole  history  of  the  lower  animals  and  of 
organized  matter  is  bui  a  constant  arid  tangible  witness 
of  our  own  ignorance.  With  a  perception  and  fore- 
sight peculiar  to  each,  the  very  operations,  which  years 
of  the  most  patient  industry  and  the  concentrated  ef- 
forts of  ingenuity  can  only  effect,  have  been  from  the 
first  executed  in  perfection,  unperceived.  The  pensile 
nests  of  several  species  of  birds  exhibit  a  facility  of 
interweaving  various  and  heterogeneous  substances  in 


20 

a  manner  almost  inexplicable.  The  curious  nest  of 
the  Bengal  grosbeak,  the  actually  sewed  cradle  of 
the  tailor  bird,  of  India,  (Sylvia  sutoria,)  the  beauti- 
ful intertwined  and  grassy  nest  of  the  tiny  marsh  wren 
of  our  neighboring  swamps  (Troglodytes  brevirostris. 
NUTT.)  the  woven  and  strong  pouch-like  nest  of  the 
vivid  and  splendid  golden  robin,  (Icterus  baltimore. 
BONAP.J  and  the  yet  more  singular  texture  of  the 
orchard  orioles  (Icterus  spurius.  BONAP.^)  are  striking 
instances.  The  workmanship  of  the  loom  is  naught 
in  comparison  with  the  ingenuity  of  the  cunning  and 
active  spider — and  while  for  centuries  the  treasures 
of  intellect  and  mind  were  committed  to  various  sub- 
stances of  inferior  value,  for  general  diffusion,  the 
ingenious  wasp,  was  hourly  fabricating  its  elegant 
nest,  with  the  now  universally  used  and  almost  indis- 
pensable article  of  paper,  which  has  superseded  all 
else.*  With  a  precision  unparalled  and  undeviating 
the  bee  (Apis  Mellifica.  L.)  whose  history  is  only 
coeval  with  man,  solved  at  each  repeated  construction 
of  its  cell,  the  problem,  which  required  the  skill  of 
a  mathematician,  aided  by  the  infinitesimal  calculus 
to  prove.  The  tissue  and  internal  structure  of  vege- 
table sf  outrival  the  curious  and  costly  productions  of 
art,  and  the  gorgeous  and  magnificent  vesture  of  the 
"  lilies  of  the  field,"  furnished  in  Holy  Writ,  a  strik- 
ing and  persuasive  argument  in  the  support  of  divine 
truth.} 

*  Polistes  Nidulans  of  Cayenne,  constructs  a  nest  of  genuine  paste  board, 
and  several  American  species  of  Vespa  and  Crabro,  use  paper  of  their  own 
fabrication,  in  the  construction  of  their  cells  and  nests. 

t  The  lace  tree  of  the  West  Indies,  (Lagctta  lintearia)  furnishes  from  its 
inner  bark  a  beautiful  substitute  for  lace. 

$  Matthew  vi.  28  29. 


21 

And  this  communion  with  Nature  !  what  more  con- 
ducive of  good  and  greater  source  of  pleasure  and 
instruction  ?  Is  it  not  well  to  steal  away  from  the 
too  absorbing  cares  of  the  busy  world,  to  lay  aside  for 
a  few  moments  the  assiduous  devotion  to  its  interests, 
to  quench  the  fever  of  excitement  and  passion  in  the 
calm  and  grand  repose  of  her  studies  ?  What  the 
very  end  and  pursuit  of  life,  but  that  course,  which 
affords  present,  solid  and  satisfactory  good  and  prom- 
ises future  benefit  ?  In  a  scene  second  only  to  that 
primeval  condition  of  the  progenitors  of  the  human 
race,~where  magnificence,  beauty,  order,  loveliness, 
harmony  and  peace  are  all  displayed,  we  seem  to  be 
invited  and  allured  by  every  object  of  sense  and  fea- 
ture of  excellence,  to  commune  with  higher,  nobler, 
better  things  than  those  of  earth.  It  is  the  inter- 
course of  spirit  with  Spirit.  The  Creator  is  yet 
holding  converse  with  His  creatures  through  the  me- 
dium of  His  works.  In  the  first  vernal  motion  of 
returning  vital  energy  in  the  humblest  moss,  as  in  the 
majestic  structure  of  the  mightiest  vegetable  form, 
whose  duration  is  coeval*  with  the  present  appearance 
of  the  earth, — in  the  gauze-like  wings  of  the  minutest 
fly,  which  dances  in  the  bright  sunbeam,  with  all  the 
pleasure  of  simple  existence,  as  in  the  noble  economy 
of  the  gigantic  quadruped, — in  the  comminuted  parti- 
cle of  dust,  as  in  the  lofty  mountains,  which  rise,  in 
silent,  solitary  and  barren  grandeur  over  the  plains, 
there  is  the  same  common  voice  of  welcome  and  the 


*  Individuals  ofrfdansonia,  of  the  Natural  order  Bombacese,  are  the  largest 
trees  known ;  their  age  has  been  computed  at  from  5  to  6000  years,  which 
though  probably  an  erroneous  calculation,  yet  they  may  be,  as.  Humboldt 
conjectures,  some  of  the  "  oldest  organic  monuments  of  our  planet." 


22 

same  common  language  of  instruction.  In  studies  so 
extensive  and  pursuits  so  glorious,  who  can  become 
an  unprofitable  learner !  No  place  so  solitary,  no  spot 
so  desolate,  no  circumstance  in  life  so  devoid  of  inter- 
est, but  could  furnish  a  solemn  and  important  lesson 
of  truth. 

Such  then  are  the  subjects  of  our  mutual  studies, 
such  their  extent  and  such  their  salutary  influence. 
It  remains  for  us  in  our  endeavors  as  a  Society  to 
pursue  them  with  that  attention,  which  gives  the  con- 
viction of  our  delight  in  them.  May  the  happy  efforts 
towards  the  advancement  of  a  more  general  taste  for 
such  subjects,  which  are  so  far  crowned  with  success, 
be  yet  increased,  that  collections  from  every  depart- 
ment of  the  Natural  world  may  add  to  the  value  of 
our  labors,  and  our  halls  still  afford  an  occasional 
resort  for  an  enlightened  community,  where  the  grace 
and  loveliness  of  Nature  shall  minister  to  the  refine- 
ment and  elegance  of  society. 

Peace  to  the  ashes,  and  deep  respect  to  the  memory 
of  that  venerable  and  learned  man,*  who  has  so  lately 
departed  from  the  scene  of  his  favorite  studies  and 
extensive  usefulness.  Although  devoted  to  the  in- 
terests of  Natural  Philosophy,  he  was  by  no  means 
unmindful  or  inattentive  to  those  of  Natural  History. 
We  remember,  for  how  can  we  forget,  his  occasional 
presence  in  our  halls  and  at  our  floral  exhibitions ; 
and  many  there  are,  who  have  enjoyed  his  liberality 
in  the  use  of  the  rarer  and  splendid  works  from  his 
Library,  or  listened  with  delight  to  his  instructive 

*Rev.  JOHN  PRINCE,  LL.D. 


23 

conversation.  His  life  is  an  exemplification  of  the 
influence  of  such  pursuits  as  our's,  on  the  heart  and 
mind. 

In  conclusion  let  me  add,  that  much  remains  to  be 
accomplished  in  every  department  of  science  under 
our  immediate  cognizance.  The  flora  of  this  County 
contains  many  beautiful  and  elegant  productions.  A 
full  and  perfect  herbarium  is  essential  to  our  Cabinet. 
An  attention  to  the  cryptogamous  plants  will  interest 
many,  who  hitherto  may  have  overlooked  them.  Of 
diminutive  size  and  of  humble  rank  in  the  order  of 
vegetable  forms,  their  real  beauty  and  inimitable  per- 
fections are  imperceptible  without  minute  study  and 
examination.  Assisted  by  the  microscope  we  are  as- 
tonished and  delighted  with  their  wonderful  and 
unique  economy.  Composing  a  vast  group  of  an  ex- 
tensive variety  of  forms,  they  are  scattered  over  the 
earth's  surface,  with  a  profusion  equal  only  to  the 
benefits  which  they  confer  in  the  great  operations  of 
existence. 

Those  rarer  phaenogamous  plants  too,  which  the 
research  of  the  respected  President  of  this  Society  has 
heretofore  discovered  in  our  immediate  vicinity,  should 
prompt  others  to  a  similar  spirit  in  each  section  of  the 
county.  The  peculiar  beauty  and  value  of  the  dried 
specimens  of  another,  who  is  also  well  known  as  an 
accomplished  botanist,  will  serve  as  models  of  our 
own.  Our  Entomology  demands  particular  attention. 
The  members  of  the  Society  will  confer  a  great  ser- 
vice to  the  general  cause,  by  transmitting  at  the  end 
of  each  season,  collections  of  every  species  of  insect 
which  falls  under  their  observation. 


24 

In  fine,  let  an  enthusiasm  and  laudable  taste  for 
the  contemplation  of  the  natural  world  be  cherished 
and  cultivated  bv  every  member,  and  our  united 
labors  in  so  good  and  glorious  a  pursuit  must  and  will 
insure  the  prosperity  of  the  ESSEX  COUNTY  NATURAL 
HISTORY  SOCIETY, 


{NoTE. — There  have  been  also  two  exhibitions  of  Fruits  and  Flowers  at 
Bradford,  under  the  direction  of  the  Society, — one  in  September,  1834,  the 
other  in  September,  1835; — both  of  them  were  very  fully  attended,  and  ex- 
cited much  interest  in  the  cause  of  science.] 


ERRA.TA. — On  page  llth,  16th  line,  for  misnamed  .read  misnomered. 
"       "      .18th    «     for  idle  themes  read  idler  themes. 


GommonUieaUfi  of 


In  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty  six. 

AN  ACT 

To  incorporate  the  Essex  County  Natural  History  Society. 


it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives in  General  Court  assembled  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
same,  That  ANDREW  NICHOLS,  WILLIAM  OAKES,  and  WIL- 
LIAM PRESCOTT,  and  their  associates,  are  hereby  made  a 
Corporation  by  the  name  of  the  ESSEX  COUNTY  NATURAL 
HISTORY  SOCIETY,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the  Science 
of  Natural  History  with  all  the  powers  and  privileges  and 
subject  to  all  the  liabilities  contained  in  the  forty  fourth 
chapter  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  this  Commonwealth 
"  passed  on  the  fourth  day  of  November  in  the  year  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty  five,"  and  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid  may  hold  real  estate  to  the  amount  often  thousand 
dollars,  and  personal  estate,  exclusive  of  the  books,  papers 
and  articles  in  the  cabinet  of  said  Society  to  the  amount  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars. 

House  of  Representatives  Feb.  11,  1836—  Passed  to  be  enacted. 

JULIUS  ROCKWELL,  Speaker. 

In  Senate,  Feb.  12,  1836—  Passed  to  be  enacted. 

HORACE  MANN,  President. 

COUNCIL  CHAMBER,  12th  Feb.  1836.—  Approved. 

EDWARD  EVERETT. 

A  true  copy  —  attest. 

JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,  Secretary. 


ARTICLE  I. 

THE  Society  shall  be  called  the  "  ESSEX  COUNTY  NAT- 
URAL HISTORY  SOCIETY.  It  shall  consist  of  two  classes  of 
members,  Resident  and  Corresponding;  Resident  Members, 
such  as  reside  in  the  County  of  Essex ;  Corresponding  Mem- 
bers, such  as  reside  elsewhere. 

ARTICLE  II. 

ANY  person  may  become  a  Member  of  this  Society  by 
signing  the  Constitution  and  paying  the  annual  assessment ; 
or  may  become  a  life  member, — exempt  of  all  assessments, 
by  the  payment  of  twenty  dollars. 

ARTICLE  III. 

CORRESPONDING  Members,  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot, 
after  having  been  n&minated  at  a  meeting  previous  to  that 
on  which  the  ballot  is  taken ;  the  votes  of  two  thirds  of  the 
members  present  shall  be  requisite  for  an  election. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

THE  annual  assessment  of  each  member  shall  be  two  dol- 
lars ;  and  no  resident  member,  who  shall  be  in  arrears  for 
one  year,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  be  eligible  to  any 
office  in  the  Society. 

ARTICLE  V. 

MEMBERS  may  be  expelled  from  this  Society  by  a  vote 
of  three  fourths  of  the  members  present  at  the  annual 
meeting. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

THE  Officers  of  this  Society  shall  be  a  President,  two 
Vice,  Presidents,  Secretary,  who  shall  also  act  as  Treasurer, 
a  Librarian  and  Cabinet  Keener. 


27 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  PRESIDENT,  and  in  his  ab- 
sence of  one  of  the  VICE  PRESIDENTS,  to  preside  in  all  the 
meetings  of  the  Society  and  Curators,  to  call  meetings  of 
the  Curators  and  Special  Meetings  of  the  Society,  by  the 
advice  of  the  Curators. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  SECRETARY  to  attend  the 
meetings  of  the  Society  and  Curators  and  record  their  pro- 
ceedings; to  keep  on  file  all  letters  and  papers  respecting 
the  Society  and  to  manage  the  correspondence  of  the  Society 
under  the  direction  of  the  Curators;  to  keep  copies  of  all 
letters  written  for  the  Society  in  a  book  provided  for  that 

purpose  ;   to  receive  and  pay  all  monies  subject  to  the  order 

of  the  Curators. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  LIBRARIAN  and  CABINET 
KEEPER  to  receive  and  have  in  his  custody  all  specimens, 
books,  papers,  &LC.  of  the  Society,  which  he  shall  arrange  in 
classes  and  register  in  a  book  with  a  proper  description  of 
each  article,  the  donor's  name,  when  the  same  shall  be  a 
present,  time  when  received,  also  to  acknowledge  all  dona- 
tions whatsoever  in  such  a  way  as  the  curators  may  direct. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

THE  President,  Vice  Presidents,  Secretary  and  Cabinet 
Keeper,  ex  officio,  with  four  others  chosen  by  the  Society 
shall  be  the  CURATORS.  They  shall  direct  the  Secretary 
and  Cabinet  Keeper  in  the  performance  of  their  respective 
duties  ;  present  to  the  Society  such  by-laws  and  regulations 
as  shall  be  thought  expedient,  and  manage  the  finance  of  the 
Society  subject  to  the  direction  of  the  Society. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

THE  Officers  and  Curators  shall  be  chosen  at  the  annual 
meeting  by  ballot. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

THE  Annual  Meeting  shall  be  on  the  third  Wednesday  in 
June. 


28 

ARTICLE  X. 

THIS  Constitution  may  be  altered  by  a  vote  of  three- 
fourths  of  the  members  present  at  any  regular  meeting  of 
the  Society;  the  intended  alterations  being  submitted  at  any 
two  previous  meetings. 


CHAPTER  I.     Of  Members. 

RESIDENT  members  only  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  be 
eligible  to  any  office. 

A  resident  member  on  removing  from  this  County  may 
become  a  corresponding  member  on  giving  notice  thereof 
and  paying  all  arrears;  and  a  corresponding  member  who 
shall  hereafter  reside  within  this  county  shall  become  a  resi- 
dent member. 

No  resident  member,  who  shall  be  in  arrears  for  one  year, 
shall  be  entitled  to  vote  or  be  eligible  to  any  office  ;  and  if 
any  one  so  in  arrears  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  liquidate  his 
dues  within  six  months  after  being  duly  notified,  he  shall 
cease  to  be  a  member  of  the  Society. 

The  yearly  assessment  is  payable  at  the  annual  meeting 
in  June. 

CHAPTER  II.      Of  Officers  and   Curators. 

THE  PRESIDENT  and  in  his  absence  one  of  the  VICE 
PRESIDENTS,  shall  preside  in  all  meetings  and  regulate  the 
order  thereof.  He  shall  have  a  casting  vote  when  there  is 
an  equal  division  amongst  the  members. 

The  SECRETARY  shall  be  present  at  all  meetings  arid  re- 
cord the  proceedings  ;  read  all  communications  made  to  him 


in  his  official  capacity  ;  notify  all  corresponding  members  of 
their  election  ;  also  all  officers  when  the  same  shall  not  be 
present  at  their  election,  and  notify  all  meetings. 

As  TREASURER  he  shall  receive  all  dues  to  the  Society 
and  pay  all  debts  after  they  have  been  approved  by  the 
Curators  :  he  shall  keep  an  exact  account  of  all  receipts  and 
expenditures,  and  report  the  same  at  the  annual  meeting. 

The  CURATORS  shall  hold  meetings  for  the  transaction  of 
business  as  often  as  once  a  month,  at  such  times  and  places 
as  may  be  most  convenient  :  four  members  shall  constitute  a 
quorum. 

CHAPTER  III.     Of  Committees. 

THE  following  STANDING  COMMITTEES,  viz  :  on  Mam- 
malia; Jives;  Reptilia  and  Pisces  ;  Mollusca  and  Radiata 
(native  ;)  Mollusca  and  Radiata  (foreign ;)  Articulata ; 
Comparative  Anatomy  ;  Botany  ;  and  Mineralogy  and  Geol- 
ogy ; — shall  be  chosen  at  the  annual  meeting.  It  shall  be 
the  duty  of  these  Committees  to  assist  the  Cabinet  Keeper 
in  the  arranging  and  preserving  the  specimens  of  Natural 
History  in  their  respective  departments,  and  to  report  at  the 
annual  meeting  in  June  the  state  of  their  respective  collec- 
tions ; — they  shall  alone  be  authorized  to  select  duplicate 
specimens  and  make  exchanges. 

CHAPTER  IV.     Of  the   Cabinet. 

ALL  donations  shall  have  the  donor's  name  affixed  thereto. 

No  cabinet  specimen  in  Natural  History  shall  be  removed 
from  the  rooms  of  the  Society  without  the  consent  of  a 
major  part  of  the  Curators. 

All  donations  shall  be  referred  to  Committees  to  report 
thereon  as  soon  as  possible. 

CHAPTER  V.     Of  the  Library. 
THE  Library  to  be  under  the  control  of  the  Curators. 


30 

No  book  to  be  purchased  except  by  the  written  consent  of  a 
major  part  of  the  Curators. 

The  Curators,  for  sufficient  reason,  may  withhold  any 
book  from  circulation,  such  books  being  marked  in  the  cat- 
alogue and  also  on  the  cover  "not  to  circulate."  The 
Librarian  shall  insert  in  a  book  provided  for  that  purpose 
the  names  of  the  borrowers,  the  time  when  taken  out  and 
when  returned. 

Each  member  shall  be  entitled  to  take  from  the  Library, 
one  folio  or  one  quarto,  or  two  volumes  of  any  lesser  fold, 
at  one  time;  separate  volumes  of  plates,  to  accompany  the 
text  as  a  part  of  the  same,  may  be  delivered  in  addition. 

No  person  shall  lend  any  book  belonging  to  the  Society, 
excepting,  to  a  member,  entitled  to  take  out,  under  a  penalty 
of  one  dollar,  for  every  offence. 

If  any  book  is  damaged  or  lost,  the  person  for  whose  use 
it  was  taken  out,  shall  make  good  such  damage  or  loss  as 
the  curators  may  determine. 

The  Curators  may  on  special  occasions,  permit  any  per- 
son not  a  member  of  the  Society  to  use  the  books  belonging 
to  the  Library,  under  such  restrictions  as  they  may  think 
proper. 

The  members  of  the  Society  residing  in  the  city  of  Salem 
or  in  the  towns  of  Beverly  or  Danvers,  shall  not  detain  any 
book  longer  than  two  weeks,  under  a  penalty  of  twenty-five 
cents  per  week.  Members  resident  in  the  more  distant 
towns  of  the  county,  shall  not  detain  any  book  longer  than 
four  weeks,  under  the  same  penalty. 

If  any  member  of  the  Society,  not  resident  in  the  city  of 
Salem  or  either  of  the  towns  of  Beverly  or  Danvers,  should 
wish  to  obtain  the  use  of  a  book  or  books,  then  in  the  hands 
of  some  other  member  of  the  Society  not  resident  in  either 
of  the  aforesaid  places,  that  member  may  receive  such  book 
or  books  from  the  other  member,  on  condition  that  both 
parties  notify  the  Librarian  by  letter  (post  paid.)  Non- 


31 

compliance  with  this  condition,  shall  subject  the  member 
who  received  the  book  or  books  direct  from  the  Library,  to 
the  usual  fine.  In  all  cases  of  loss  or  damage  the  original 
receiver  shall  be  held  responsible  to  the  Curators ;  and 
should  any  demur  or  difficulty  arise,  the  parties  shall  settle 
it  between  themselves,  responsibility  always  attaching  to  the 
first  receiver  of  the  books. 

On  the  Wednesday  preceding  the  annual  Meeting  all 
books  shall  be  called  in,  and  the  Curators  shall  examine  the 
Library.  They  shall  note  all  missing  books,  the  state  of 
the  Library  and  report  the  same  at  the  annual  meeting. 

CHAPTER  VI.      Of  Meetings. 

THE  ordinary  Meetings  of  the  Society  shall  be  held  on 
the  third  Wednesday  of  every  month,  at  3  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Visitors  may  be  introduced  by  any  member. 

The  annual  and  all  special  meetings  of  the  Society  shall 
be  notified  by  circulars,  signed  by  the  Secretary,  and  sent 
to  each  member,  at  least  six  days  before  said  meeting. 


32 
OFFICERS     OF     THE     SOCIETY. 


Elected   Dec.   18,   1S33. 

PRESIDENT. 

ANDREW  NICHOLS,  of  Danvers. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

WM.  OAKES,  of  Ipswich,  GARDNER  B.  PERRY,  of  Bradford. 

SECRETARY  AND  TREASURER. 

JOHN  M.  IVES,  Salem. 

LIBRARIAN    AND    CABINET    KEEPER. 

JOHN  LEWIS  RUSSELL,   Salem. 

CURATORS. 

WM.  OAKES,  Ipswich.  THOMAS  SPENCER,  Salem. 

JOHN  C.  LEE,  Salem.  CHARLES  G.  PAGE,  Salem. 

Elected    June    IT,    1833. 

PRESIDENT. 

ANDREW  NICHOLS,  of  Danvers. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

WILLIAM  OAKES,  Ipswich.  GARDNER  B.  PERRY,  Bradford. 

SECRETARY    AND    TREASURER. 

HENRY  WHEATLAND,  Salem. 

LIBRARIAN    AND    CABINET    KEEPER. 

WILLIAM  P.  RICHARDSON,  Salem. 

CURATORS. 

JOHN  G.  LEE,  Salem.  JOHN  M.  IVES,  Salem. 

WM.  PRESCOTT,  Lynn.  CHAS.  G.  PAGE,  Salem. 

Elected    June     15,     1830. 

PRESIDENT. 

ANDREW  NICHOLS,  Danvers. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

WM.  OAKES,  Ipswich.  GARDNER  B.  PERRY,  Bradford. 

SECRETARY  and  TREASURER 

HENRY  WHEATLAND,  Salem. 

LIBRARIAN    and   CABINET   KEEPER 

WILLIAM  P.  RICHARDSON,  Salem. 

CURATORS 

JOHN  C.  LEE,  Salem,  JOHN  M.  IVES,  Salem, 

WM.  PRESCOTT,  Lynn,  CHAS.  G.  PAGE,  Salem. 


OF 

THE   LIBRARY, 

OF    THE 

25S3EX    COimTlT   N.£.TUZl<aZ.   HISTORY   SOCIETY. 


1.  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  Journal  of,  8vo,  G  vols. 
and  part  1st  of  vol.  7th.    Philadelphia,  from  1817. 

2.  Audubon,   J.  J.,   Ornithological  Biography,  roy.  8vo,   vols.  1  and  2. 
Philadelphia  1832,  and  Boston  1835. 

3.  Bakewell  Robert,  an  introduction  to  Geology,  (2d  American  from  the 
4th  London  edition,  edited  by  B.  Silliman,)  1  vol.  8vo.     New  Haven,  1833. 

*4.     Bigelow  Jacob,  Florula  Bostoniensis,  1  vol.  8vo.    Boston,  1824. 

5.  Boston  Journal  of  Philosophy  and  the   Arts,  3  vola  8vo.    Boston, 
from  1823  to  1826. 

6.  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  Transactions  of,  Nos.  1,2  and  3,  of 
part  1,  8vo.    Boston. 

7.  Brewster's  David,  New  Edinburgh  Encyclopaedia,  31  Nos.  4to.    Phila- 
delphia. 

*  8.     Brown  Thos.,  Zoologist's  text  book,  2  vols  16  mo.     Glasgow,  1832. 

9.  Cabinet  of  Natural  History  and  Rural  Sports,  2  vols  4to.  Philadelphia, 
from  1830  to  1832. 

10.  Cuvier  G.,  Animal  Kingdom,  (translated  and  abridged  by  H.  M'Mur- 
trie)  1  vol.  8vo.    New  York,  1832. 

*  11.     Animal  Kingdom,  with  supplementary  additions  by  E.  Grif- 
fith, Class  Reptilia,  1  vol.  8vo.    London,  1831. 

*  12.     Animal   Kingdom,  with   supplementary  additions   by   E. 

Griffith,  Class  Insecta,  2  vols.  8vo.    London,  1832. 

13.  Dana  J.  F.  &  S.  L.,  Outlines  of  the   Mineralogy  and    Geology  of 
Boston  and  its  vicinity,  1  vol.  8vo.     Boston,  1818. 

14.  De  Candolle  A.  P.,  Theorie  Elementaire  de  laBotanique,  1  vol.  8vo. 
Paris,  1819. 

15.  De  la  Beche  H.  J.   Application  of  Geology  to  the  useful  purposes  of 
life,  (republished  from  his  late  work,  by  the  N.  Y.  Lye.  Nat.  His.)  8vo.; 
pp.  22.    New  York,  1836. 

16.  Elliott  Stephen,  a  Sketch  of  the  Botany  of  South  Carolina  and  Geor- 
gia, 2  vols.  8vo.     Charleston,  S.  C.  1821. 

*  Books  thus  marked  are  not  to  circulate. 


34 

17.  Essex  Agricultural   Society,   Transactions  of,  vol.  1,  and  5  Nos.  of 
rol.  2.     Salem,  from  1818. 

18.  Fairholme  George,  a  general  view  of  the  Geology  of  Scripture,  1  vol. 
12  mo.    Philadelphia,  1833. 

19.  Godman  John  D.,    American  Natural  History,  3  vols.  8vo.      Phila- 
delphia, 1831. 

20.  HildrethC.  T.,  case  of  Notencephale,  8vo.  pp.  16.     Boston,  1831. 

21.  Hitchcock  Edward,  Report  of  the  Geology,  Mineralogy,  Botany  and 
Zoology  of  Massachusetts,  (Isted.)  1  vol.  8vo.  with  plates.     Amherst,  1833. 

*22.    The  same  (2d  edition.)     Amherst,  1835. 

23.  Humboldt  Alex,  de,  De  distributione  Geographica  Plantarum,  1  vol. 
8vo.    Paris,  1817. 

24.  Imperial  Mineralogical  Society  of  St.  Petersburg,  Transactions  of, 
roy.  8vo.  vol.  1,  with  plates.     St.  Petersburg,  1830. 

25.  Insects,  Natural  History  of,  (compiled  from  Swammerdam,  Brookes, 
&c.)  1  vol.  8vo.     Perth,  1792. 

26.  Jay  John  C.,  Private  Catalogue  of  Shells,  Aug.  1st,  1835,   12mo. 
pp.  55.    New- York,  1835. 

27, Another  copy. 

28.  Kirby  and  Spence,  Introduction  to  Entomology,  4  vols.  8vo.     Lon- 
don, 1828. 

29.  L'Etablissement   Geographique  de   Bruxelles,    Lettre   sur,     ICmo. 
pp.  49.     Bruxelles,  1836. 

30. Ouvrages  Publiee,  16mo.  pp.  20.     Bruxelles,  1836. 

31.  Lindley  John,   Introduction  to  the  Natural  System  of  Botany  (1st 
Am.  ed.  with  an  Appendix  by  J.  Torrey)  1  vol.  8vo.     New- York,  1831. 

32.  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  of  New- York,  Annals,  vols.  1  and  2,  and 
Nos.  1  and  2  of  vol.  3.     New- York,  from  1817. 

33. Charter,  Constitution  and  Bye-Laws,   8vo.  pp.  24.     New- 
York,  1835. 

34.     duplicate  of  the  same. 

35.  Lyell  Charles,  Principles  of  Geology,  [4th  ed.]  12mo.  4  vols.   London, 
1835. 

36.  Mawe  J.,  Voyager's  Companion  and  Shell-Collector's  Pilot,  &c.  &c. 
1  vol.  18mo.     London,  1825. 

37.  Michaux  F.  A.,  North   American  Sylva,  roy.  8vo.   3  vols.     Paris, 
1819. 

38.  Miscellany  of  Natural  History,  [vol.  1st,  Parrots,by  Sir  J.  D.  Lander 
and  Thos.  Brown,]  1  vol.  12mo.     Edinburgh,  1833. 

39.  Mohs  Frederick,  Treatise  on  Mineralogy,  translated  from  the  Ger- 
man by  Wm.  Hardinger,  3  vols.  12mo.     Edinburgh,  1825. 

40.  Montague  G.,  Ornithological  Dictionary  (Rennie's  edition)  1  vol.  8vo. 
London,  1831. 

41.  Nuttall  Thomas,  Genera  of  North  American  Plants  and  Catalogue  of 
Species  to  1817,  12mo.  2  vola.     Philadelphia,  1818. 


35 

42. Ornithology  of  U.  S.  A.  and  Canada,  part  1st,  Land 

Birds,  12mo.  1  vol.  Cambridge,  1832. 

43. Ornithology  of  U.  S.  A.  and  Canada,  part  2d,  Water 

Birds,  12mo.  1  vol.  Boston,  1834. 

*44.     Practical  Naturalist,  Manual  of,  1  vol.  16mo.     Boston,  1831. 

45.  Pursh  Frederick,  Flora  America?  Septentrionalis,  8vo.  2  vols.     Lon- 
don, 1814. 

46.  Riddell  John  L.,  a  Synopsis  of  the  Flora  of  the  Western  States,  8vo. 
pp.  116.     Cincinnati,  1835. 

*47.  Robinson  Sam'l,  a  Catalogue  of  American  Minerals,  with  their  lo- 
calities, 1  vol.  8vo.  Boston,  1825. 

48.  Russell  John  Lewis,  a  Discourse  delivered  before  the  Massachusetts 
Horticultural  Society,  Sept  17, 1835,  8vo.  pp.  36.     Boston  1835. 

49.  Say  Thos.,  Explanation  of  terms   used   in  Entomology,  8vo.  1  vol. 
Philadelphia. 

50.  Shepard  C.  U.  Treatise  on  Mineralogy,  2d  part  consisting  of  descrip- 
tions of  the  species,  &c.  12  mo.  2  vols.     New  Haven,  1835. 

51.  Silliman  Benj.,  The  American  Journal  of  Science,  8vo.  30  vols.  New 
Haven,  from  1819. 

52.  Smith,  J.  V.  C.,  Natural  History  of  the  fishes  of  Massachusetts,  1  vol. 
12  mo.    Boston,  1833. 

53.  Swainson  Win.,  a  Preliminary  Discourse  on  the  study  of  Natural 
History,  (No  59.  of  Lard.  Cab.  Cyc.)  1  vol.  12mo.     London,  1834. 

54.    A  Treatise  on  the  Geography  and  classification  of  animals, 

(No.  66,  of  Lard.  Cab.  Cyc.)  1  vol.  12mo.     London,  1835. 

55.  Torrey  John,- Compendium  of  the  Flora  of  the  Northern  and  Middle 
States,  1  vol.  12mo.     New  York,  1826. 

56.    Duplicate  ot  the  same. 

57.  Upham  C.  W.,  a  Discourse  at  the  funeral  of  the  Rev  John  Prince, 
on  the  9th  of  June  1836,  8vo.  pp.  31.     Salem,  1836. 

58.  Wildenow  C.  L.,  species  Plantarum,  12mo-  24  vols.    Berolini,  1797. 
*  59.    Wilson,  Alex.,  American  Ornithology,  3  vols.  roy.  8vo.  with  1  vol 

of  plates,  4to.    New  York  and  Philadelphia,  1829. 

60.  Wright  J.  and  Hall  James,  a  catalogue  of  Plants  growing  without 
cultivation  in  the  vicinity  of  Troy,  8vo.  pp.  42.  Troy,  N.  Y.  1836. 

61.  Zoological  Society,  Gardens  and  Menageries  of,  8vo.  2  TO!S.  Chis- 
wick,  1831. 


TO    THE 


The  numbers  against  the  namei  correspond  with  those  in  the  catalogue, 


J.  C.  Lee,  3,  7,  8, 12,  31,  39,  47,  50. 

William  Oakes,  of  Ipswich,  51  from  vol  11  to  20  inclusive. 

Miss  S.  Burley,  35. 

C.  Cramer,  of  New- York  city,  24,  26,  29,  30,  33,  CO. 

Wm.  P.  Richardson,  57. 

B.  H.  Ives,  49. 

John  Lewis  Russell,  18,  4G,  48. 

Mrs.  A.  Dunlap,  15,  27,  34. 

Milliard,  Gray  &  Co.  Boston,  42,  43. 

Thomas  Spencer,  40. 

Henry  Whipple,  25. 

A.  L.  Peirson,  20. 

Massachusetts  Legislature,  21,  22. 


DONATIONS 

TO 


OF    THE 

ESSEX   COUNTY   NATURAL   HISTORY   SOCIETY, 

From  January  1st,  1834,  to  September  1st,  1836. 


1834. 
Jan. 


Skulls  of  Fiber  Zibethicus,  Mus- 
tek lutreola,  and  Sciurus  Caro- 
linensis. 


:ad  skulls  of  Larus 
lymbus    sp.  Sorex 


Rana  pipiene 

sp.   and 

brevieaudus. 
April.  Starling,  from  the  Falkland  Islands. 
Falco  levei  iarws,  female  &  eggs  — 

Testudo  Soabra. 

Skeleton  of  Fringilla  Canariensis. 
Malformed  claw  of  Astacus  marinus 
Venus  mercenaria. 
Helix, 

July.  Spotted  Jaspet,  from  Saugus,  Mass. 
Anadonta,  from  S.  Carolina,  Cy- 

praeae,  Murices,  Strombi,  &c. 

Minerals  from  Brunswick  and  Au- 

gusta, Me.,  &  Newbury,  Mass. 

several  species  of  native  shells. 
Egg  of  Casuarius  vulgaris. 
Condylura  cristata,  ,var.  ?      Mus 

musculus. 
Aug.    Hirundo  pelasgia—  Pupae  and  Lar- 

vae of  several  Lepidoptera. 
Falco  sparvinus,  adult  male. 
Skull  and  spine  of  Felis  cata. 
Skeleton  of  Scolopax  Wilsonii. 

Nest  of  Icterus  Baltimore.  —  Box 

of  Native  Insects. 
Vespertilio  murinus. 

Box  of  Coleopterous  Insects  —  Co- 
coons of  Bombyx  mori. 

Vespertilio  Noveboracensis. 
Do.       Murinus 

6 


Samuel  P  Fowler,  Danvers. 

John  M.  Ives. 
Thomas  Spencer. 

Abel  Nichols,  Danvers. 
John  S.  Appleton,  Gloucester. 
.  John  M.  Ives. 
Andrew  Nichols,  Danvers. 
Samuel  P.  Fowler,  Danvers. 
Wm.  Prescott,  Lynn. 

Mrs.  A.  Dunlap. 

John  Lewis  Russell. 
Benj.  Shreve. 

John  Lewis  Russell. 

Charles  G.  Page. 

Geo.  H.  Devereux. 

Joseph  Farnum,  jr. 

John  S.  Appleton,  Gloucester. 

Henry  Wheatland. 
Geo.  Silsbee. 

Abel  Nichols,  Danvers. 
Wm.  B.  Johnson. 
B.  Hale  Ives. 


1834. 

Aug.    Tantalus  rubra.      Rhamphastos 
erythrorynchus. 

Exuviae;  of  Gryllus  sp. 

Native  fishes, 

Cyprinus  sp. 

Falco  columbarius,  young  male. 

Sept.    Pagurus    longicarpus Native 

shells — Nest   of     Troglodytes 
palustris. 

Monoculus  Polyphemus — Skull  of 
Ovis  aries  var.  polycerata—Skull 
and  claws  of  Strix  nyctea  and 
nebylosa. 

Shells,  several  sp.  from  Thames 
river,  England, 

Sylvia  Canadensis 
Vespertilio  Noveboracensis 

Shells  from  Ouisconsin  river  and 
South  Carolina 

Falco  haliaetus,  adult  male 
Falco  sparverius 
Falco  leucocephalus,  young 
Alcedo  alcyon,  female 
Foreign  shells 

Solen  sp.  Paludinia  decisa,  Cyprea 
caput-serpentis,  &c.  &c. 

Nest  of  Card-making  Wasp  from 
Cayenne 

Quartz  crystals 

Spicular  Iron  Ore,  from  Elba 

Volcanic  Nitres  and  Sulphurs, 
from  the  Mediterranean — Na- 
tive Insects 

Palmated  Sponge,  from  Ipswich 
Beach,  Mass. 

Oct.     Minerals,  from  Franconia,  N.  H. 

Native  Minerals,  and  Vertebra  of 
a  Whale 

Turdus  Wilsonii 

Fiber  zibethicus 

Madrepora  sp. 

Bog  Iron  ore,  and  Lacerta  sp. 

Insects 

Tetraodon  sp. 

Exocetus  volitans,  and  Coluber  sp. 

Emys  sp. 

Coumarouma  odorata 

Fulica  atra  and  Native  Insects 

Foreign  Minerals  and  Shells 


Stephen  Driver,  jr- 
Miss  H.  Perkins. 
Geo.  A.  Perkins. 
John  M.  Ives. 
William  Rose. 


John  Lewis  Russell. 


Joseph  Farnum,  jr. 

Henry  Wheatland, 
William  Peele. 
Miss  Prince. 

Mrs.  Dunlap. 
Samuel  Gardner. 
Nathaniel  West,  3d. 
James  Brown. 
William  Rose. 
Mrs.  Benja.  Shreeve, 

Mrs.  J.  Chadwick. 

Miss  P.  A.  Winn. 

Jas.  D.  Gillis. 

B.  W.  Crowninshield, 


Charles  G.  Page. 

John  M.  Ives. 
Horatio  Robinson. 

Joseph  Farnum,  jr. 
John  Henfield,  jr. 
William  Rose. 
Miss  H.  S.  Haskell. 
Daniel  P.  King,  Danver*, 
George  A.  Perkins. 
Francis  H.  Tufts. 
Rev.  John  Prince. 
Henry  Perley. 
Miss  P.  A.  Winn. 
Henry  Wheatland. 
John  M,  Ives 


39 


1834. 

Aug. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


1835, 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
April. 


Skull  of  Ardea  Herodias 
Balanus  sp.  from  S.  American  coast 
Scolopendra  morsitans 
Nest  of  Icterus  Baltimore 
Mustela  lutreola 
Crystallized  Quartz 
Capsules  of  Capsicum  baccatum, 
and  skin  of  Dasypus  tricinctua 

Sturnus  praedatorius 

Mergus  Merganser 

Syngnathus  typhle — Native  Insects 

Exocetus  exiliens,  &c. 

Lepus  cuniculus,  male  and  female 

Copal,  containing  insects 

Capsule  of  Bertholletia  excelsa 

Pods  of  Tamarindus  Indica 

Box  of  Native  Lepidoptera 

Sciurus  Carolinensig 

Strix  nyctea 

Bowlders,  from  St.  Petersburg 

Strix  nyctea 

Skull  of  Corvus  corone 

Testudo  radiata 

Falco  leucocephalus,  (young) 


Joseph  Farnum,  jr. 
John  Lewis  Russell. 
George  P.  Farrington. 
Elias  E.  Porter,  Danver*. 

Shatswell. 

Francis  Cummins. 

Charles  H.  Fabens. 

Moses  Home,  jr.  Topsfield. 

James  Balch. 

B.  Hale  Ives. 

J.  Fisk  Allen. 

Francis  H.  Tufts. 

Andrew  Leach,  Beverly. 

Mrs.  John  Chadwick.    , 

Mrs.  Newcombe. 

Abel  Nichols,  Danvers. 

Joseph  Farnum. 

"William  Oakes,  Ipswich. 

Charles  Cramer,  N.  Y.  city. 

James  Brown,  Danvers. 

Charles  G.  Page. 

Mrs.  Arrington. 

Joseph  Grover,  Concord,  N.  H. 


Erastus  Ware,  Marblehead. 

Benj.  Creamer. 

Samuel  P.  Fowler,  Danvers. 

Henry  Wheatland. 

William  P.  Richardson. 

William  Fettyplace. 

F.  W.  Paine,  Worcester. 


Strix  Virginiana  and  cinerea 

Cervus  paludosus,  young  female 

Eggs  of  15  species  of  native  birds 

Antlers  of  Cervus  Virginianus 

Do.  do.  and  Fringilla  purpurea 

Stalactites,  from  Girgenti,  Sicily 

Native  Minerals — 23  specimens 

Seeds  and  Bird-skins,  from  Sand- 
wich and  Society  Islands 

Minerals  and  seeds  of  Mangifera 
Indica 

Fulica  Americana 

Native  Minerals  and  Sylvia  pinus 

Reptiles,  from  Para,  S.  A. 

Shells,  from  Fegee  Islands 

Minerals 

Prepared  heads  of  17  species  of  Birds  John  M.  Ives. 

Reptiles  and  Bird-skins,  from  Para     Benj,  Cox,  jr. 

Unbroken  fibre  of  Musa  sp.  from 
which  Manilla  hemp  is  obtain- 
ed—Specimen of  cotton,  with 
seed  enclosed  Jona.  P.  Felt. 


John  B.  Williams. 

Mrs.  J.  Chadwick. 

George  Prince. 

Andrew  Nichols,  Danver*. 

Tho's  P.  Pingree. 

John  W.  Rogers. 

John  C.  Lee. 


40 


George  Osgood,  Danvers. 
F.  W.  Paine,  Worcester. 

William  P.  Endicott. 
Wra.  P.  Richardson. 

Pickering  Dodge,  Lynn. 

Andrew  Nichols,  Danvers. 
Abel  Nichols,  do. 

J.  Willard  Peele,  Manilla. 


1835. 

May.    NotonectsB 

Several  species  of  Paradisea 
Nux  Moschata,  Caryophyllus  aro- 
maticus — Draco   lineatus,   &c. 
in  spirit 

Fossil  impressions  of  Ferns- 
Coluber  constrictor  and  Gymno- 

tus  sp. 

Petrifactions,  &c.  from  the  collec- 
tion of  the  late  Dr.  Holyoke — 
and  Native  Minerals 

Earth,  from  Epsom 

Box  of  Insects,  from  Manilla 

Foreign  shells,  12  species — Tusk 

of  Halicore  Indicus — and  leaves 

and  fruit  of  Jatropha  elastica          John  Warden. 
Foreign  shells,  96  species  Miss  E.  Hodges. 

Sphinges  and  Mantides,  from  Ma- 
dagascar Jacob  Kittredge. 
Scolopax  flavipes,AIauda  magnate.  Nath'l  West  3d. 
Native  Minerals— Turdus  auroca- 

pillus — Vireo  olivaceus,  &c. 
Skin  of  Felis  onca 

"    of  Canis  (vulpes)  fulvus 
Fossil  Coral,  from  the  Gypsum 

formation,  Baltimore 
June.   Foreign  Shells 

Reptiles  from  Para,  S.  A. 

Molar  tooth  and  femur  of  Loxo- 

odonta  Africanus,   and  skin  of 

Boa  constrictor 

Chama  Hippopus  and  Rhomb  spar 
Skin  of  Kangurus  labiatus 
Box  of  Chinese  Insects 
Lead  Ore,  from  mines  near  Galena 

Skin  of  Arctomys  inonax,  and 
Iron  pyrites 

Sepia  officiualis 

Minerals,  from  Worcester  county 
Calosoma  calidum  &  Saturnia  lo 
Attacus  luna 

Bog  Iron  Ore,  from  Gloucester 
Tail  of  Elephas  Indicus 
Claw  of  Astacus  marinus,  which 
weighed  39  Ibs. 

Calosoma  scrutator,  2  specimens 
Emys  scabra,  2  specimens 
Egg  of  Struthio  camelus 
Native  Minerals 


Andrew  Nichols,  Danvers. 
T.  Perkins  Pingree. 
Samuel  Honeycomb. 

Charles  G.  Page. 
Nath'l  L.  Page. 
James  Creamer. 

Robert  Brookhouse. 
Henry  G.  Bridges. 
Philip  Hammond. 
Samuel  Barton. 
Miss  M.  J.  Scobie. 

Theodore  Morgan. 

Francis  H.  Tufts. 

William  H.  Brooks. 

Geo.  A.  Perkins. 

Miss  Sarah  Cook. 

John  S.  Apple  ton,  Gloucester. 

B.  K.  Churchill. 


Moses  H.  Shaw,  Gloucester. 
W.  C.  Wiggin,  Danvers. 
B.  Hale  Ives. 
Chas.  M.  Richardson. 
Wm.  Stearns. 


41 


1835. 

June.   Condylura  cristata 
Stalactite 

Mica,  from  New-Brunswick 
Tremolite,  from  Lubec,  Me. 
Calosoma  calidum 
Sphinx  sp.  and  Testudo  serpentina 
Helices,  from  England 
Nest  of  Sylvia  aestiva 
Minerals 
July.    Fruit  ot  Juglansalba,  from  Penn., 

Fasciculus  of  Western  Vernal 

Plants,  Minerals,  and  28  species 

of  Uniones  from  Ohio 
Skull  of  Mephitis  Americana 

"  ofFelisonca 
Pterornys  volucella 
Mactra  grandis,from  Chelsea  Beach 

Fruit  of  Psidium  Catteleyanum 
and  Cactus  sp. 

Malformed  hen's  egg 

Pagurus  sp. 

Shells  and  corals  from  Phillips' 
Beach— Reptiles  from  Para — 
Beak  of  Xiphias  sp.,  and  Molar 
tooth  of  Loxodonta  Africanus 

Nest  and  eggs  of  Fringilla  palustris 

Pupa  and  imago  of  Cicada  pruinosa 

Scolopendra  morsitans,  young 

Minerals,  from  Saugus 

Native  Minerals 

(I  1C 

Foreign   Shells,    4   species — and 
Testudo  radiata 

Ichneumon  sp. 
Syngnathus  typhle 
Coluber  vernalis 
Falco  borealis,  young 
Aug.    Vespertilio  Noveboracensis 
JSative  Insects  (rare*) 

Testudo  tabulata,  from  Brazil 
Minerals,  from  Chelmsford,  Mass 
Cottus  quadricornus 
Anas  Gambiensis 
Crotalus  horrid  us  &  corvus  corone 

Molar  tooth  of  Loxodonta  Afri- 
canus 

Head  of  Testudo  sp.  from  S.  A- 


Charles  Dodge. 

Lander. 

Charles  G.  Page. 

S.  &  L.  Brcoks. 

Col.  Dodge,  Wenham. 

John  M.  Ives. 

John  Full. 

Wm.  P.  Richardson. 

Charles  Cramer,  N.  Y.  city. 


John  L.  Russell. 
Theodore  Morgan. 
Jos.  Farnum,  jr. 
Henry  Wheatland. 
Joseph  Moriarty,  Boston. 

Theodore  Morgan,  jr.  Maranham. 
Samuel  Cur  wen. 
Miss  Eliza  Perley. 


Charles  G.  Page. 

E.  N.  Wead. 

William  Ives. 

John  Wheatland. 

John  C.  Lee. 

Thomas  Prince. 

Andrew  Nichols,  Danvers. 

Miss  M.  A.  King. 
John  Howard. 
Wm.  B.  Dodge. 
John  M.  Ives. 

Rand. 

Joshua  Safford. 

T.  W.  Harris,  Cambridge. 

George  D.  Phippen. 

Wm.  H.  Osborne. 

J.  W.  Stearns,  jr. 

Geo.  M'Duffie. 

Francis  Spinney,  Lynnfield. 

Nicholas  Boylston. 
Thomas  Dewing. 


1835. 
Aug. 


Minerals,    from    Franconia    and 

White  Hills,  N.  H. 
Chelonura  serpentina  and  native 

minerals 


T.  P.  Shepard. 


Abel  Nichols,  Danvers. 
Luther  Upton. 
Robert  Hill. 
Mrs.  Johonnot. 


Shark's  jaw, 

Capsules  of  Bertholletia  excelsa 
Skin  of  Penguin's  neck 
Suite  of  Shells,  from  Island  of  Java  John  C.  Lee. 
Sept.   Turkey  tracks  in  Sandstone,  from 

Montague,  Mass. 
Sphinx  sp.  from  Para 
Coluber  sp. 
Minerals,    from    Franconia    and 

vicinity 

Madrepora  and  Minerals 
Petrifactions,  from  Cattskill  Mts. 

N.Y. 
Native  Insects,  Skulls  of  Canis 

(Vulpes)   fulvus,     Cervus  Vir- 

ginianus,   Canis   familiaris   (b. 

Terrarius)  <fcc. 
Oct.    Uniones,  several  species 

Unio,  from  Fox  river,  Michigan 

Territory 
Fulica  Americana 
Podiceps  rubricollis 
Eggs  of  Ardea  nycticorax 
Ornithorhyncus   paradoxus,   and 


Pickering  Dodge. 
William  Rose. 
Joseph  Brown. 

Francis  Cummins. 
Miss  S.  Silver. 

George  A.  Perkin*. 


Henry  Wheatland. 
Mrs.  Dunlap. 

Mrs.  Elkins. 

Upton,  Danvers. 

Wm.  Cheever. 
Francis  Cummins. 


Nov. 

Dec. 

1836. 
Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Falcosp.  from  New  South  Wales  Win.  Driver. 
Charadrius  melodus  John  M.  Ives. 

Skull  of  Buceros  sp.  from  Sumatra  Charles  Procter. 

"     "  Equus  caballus,  female        Wm.  Osborne. 


Nest  of  Hirundo  edilis,  Fruit  of 
Citrus  paradisus,  Shells,  &  Che- 
Ionia  mydas,  var.  from  Java 

Hyria,  two  species,  Turbo,  Can- 
cer, &c. 

Skull  of  Loxia  cardinalis,  male 

Palate  bone  of  Drum  fish 

Skin  of  Felis  tigrina,  from  S.  A- 
merica 

Jaw  of  Delphinus  delphis 

European  (chiefly  Russian)  Insects  T.  Wm.  Harris,  Cambridge. 

Skull  of  Sus    babyroussa,   from 

Island  of  Timor  John  G.  Waters. 

Bradypus  didactylus,  Chelys  Ma- 
taraata  and  12  species  of  Simiae 
and  Lemurei,  from  S.  America  Benj.  Upton,  jr. 


Richard  Wheatland. 

Geo.  H.  Brown,  Beverly. 
S.  P.  Fowler,  Danvers. 
Nath'l  Weston. 

Daniel  Shepard. 
Joseph  Farnum,  jr. 


1836. 

Mar.    Fish,  several  species  from  Indian 

Ocean 

Native  Minerals 
Antler  of  Cervus  Alces 
April.  Strix  Virginianus  and  egg  of  do. 
Mass  of  Magnetic  Iron,  from  the 

New  York  fire 
Skulls  of  Phoca  vitulina  and  Arc- 

tomys  monax 
Jaws  of  Squalus  sp. 

•'     "        "        "  andDelphinus 
delphis 

Exocetus  sp.  and  Jaws  of  Delphi- 

nus  delphis 
Molar  tooth   of  Elephas  Indicus, 

from  Ceylon 

Strix  nyctea 

Sepia  and  Exocetus,  from  Indian 
Ocean,  Agates,  Petrifactions,  & 
Sticks  of  Laurus  Cinnamomum 

Nest  and  eggsofFringillamelodia 
Carbonate  of  Lime,   from    Sing 

Sing,  N.  Y. 

Collection  of  Shells  from  E.Indies 
Skin  of  Boa  Constrictor  from  Cey- 
lon, and  Capsules  of  Medicago 
sp.  from  Patagonia 

May.   Molar  tooth  of  Loxodonta  Afri- 
canus 

Galena  and  Sulphuret  of  Copper, 
from  Galena,  Mi. 

June.   Minerals 

Eggs  of  Struthio  camelus  and 
Comb  of  Apis  Mellifica 

Stalactite  from  St.  Michael's  Cave, 
Gibraltar 

Fruits  of  Banksia  serrata  and 
Hakea  sp.  from  Sidney,  New 
South  Wales 

Coluber  Sipedon 

Fruit  of  species  of  Palm    from 

Brazil  and  Hyla  versicolor 
Attacus  luna 
Libinia  canaliculata 
Native  Crustacea 

Insects  and  Reptiles,  skins  of  Strix 
sp.  Ardea  sp.  and  Dasyurug 
pencillatus ;  Foot  of  Kangurus 
labiatus,  Pressed  Plants,  Fruits 
of  Banksia  serrata,  &c.  from 
Swan  river,  Western  Australia, 


John  Webb. 
Wm.  Prescott,  Lynn. 
Geo.  H.  Devereux. 
Pope,  Danvers. 

Wm.  Brown. 

S.  P.  Fowler,  Danvers. 

J.  H.  Eagleston,  Baltimore. 

Mrs.  J.  Chad  wick. 
Chas.  Farrington. 

Robert  W.  King. 
Palmer  Tufts,  Danvers. 

Joshua  Kinsman. 
Andrew  Nichols,  Danvers. 

Geo.  A.  Perkins. 
James  B.  Briggs. 

Wm.  P.  Richardson. 
John  Lewis  Russell. 

Increase  S.  Smith,  Hingham. 
Geo.  H.  Brown,  Beverly. 

H.  K.  Oliver. 
John  Tucker. 

Chas.  F.  Richardson. 
Osgood  Parker. 

John  Lewis  Russell. 
Thomas  Cole. 
Charles  G-.  Page. 
Wm.  Prescott,  Lynn. 


John  B.  Williams. 


44 


1836. 

June.   Specimen  and  eggs  of  Emys  picta 
Box  of  South  American  Insects 
Echinus  sp.  from  Maranham 
Eggs  of  Coluber  constrictor 
Specimens  of  Calosoma  scrutator 
Julus  sp.  and  Minerals 
Maenura  lyra,  from  New  South 
Wales 

Fasciculus  of  Pressed  Plants 
July.   Cistudaclausa,frem  Reading,  Mass. 

"          "         "     Barnstable  co. 

Mass. 
Minerals  and   Petrifactions  from 

Ceylon  and  Franconia 
Lacerta  sp. 

Eggs  of  Emys  scabra 
Limeston  containing  shells 

Petromyzon  fluviatilis 
Helices 

Foreign  Shells,  several  species 
Native  Fish 

Vespertilio  sp.,and  several  species 
of  Insects  &  Reptiles  from  Java 
Aug.    Derbyshire  Spar 

Skin  of  Squalus   tigrinus,  from 
Swan  river,  Western  Australia 
Serpentine,  from  Lynnfield,  Mass 
Eggs  of  Coluber  constrictor 


George  A.  Perkins. 

Mrs.  Thorndike  Deland. 

Luther  Upton. 

Jas.  Stone. 

W.  C.  Wiggin,  Danvers. 

Theodore  Morgan. 

Miss  Sarah  Mugford. 
Miss  N.  Gay. 
Geo.  B.  Foster. 

William  Mack. 

Robert  W.  King. 

John  H.  Parnell. 

II.  Wheatland. 

Thomas  Hunt,  jr.  Danvers, 

Luke  Towne,  Topsfield. 

Mrs.  J.  Brazer. 

Mrs.  J.  B.  Briggs. 

E.  H.  Payson. 

R.  G.  Wheatland, 
Mrs.  E.  Lander. 

John  B.  Williams. 
Andrew  Nichols,  Danvers. 
Wm.  Osborn. 


JOURNAL 

OP   THE 

ESSEX    COUNTY    CTATimAI.     HISTOJnT     SOCIETTT. 


VOL.  I.  JUNE,    1839,  No.  2. 

PREFATORY  REMARKS. 

It  may  be  expected  on  the  commencement  of  a  2d  number  of 
our  Journal,  that  some  brief  account  be  given  of  the  state  and 
progress  of  the  cc  ESSEX  COUNTY  NATURAL  HISTORY  SOCIETY," 
since  the  issue  of  the  first,  containing  its  anniversary  address, 
etc.  At  that  time,  (June  15,  1836,)  the  Society  was  considered 
in  a  prosperous  condition.  Its  intentions  since,  as  ever,  have 
been  to  promote  the  Natural  History  of  the  County. 

Our  County  Geology  and  Mineralogy  have,  thus,  been  exam- 
ined and  specimens  collected.  A  valuable  group  of  native  birds 
has  been  provided  for  its  Ornithology.  The  Conchology  of  our 
ocean  shores  has  been  regarded.  Nor  has  our  Botany  been 
overlooked.  Beautifully  dried  Plants,  both  of  the  Phaneroga- 
mous and  Cryptogamous  orders,  and  also  prepared  fruits  and 
seeds  will  be  found  in  their  proper  compartments.  Attention  to 
the  Mammalia,  Reptilia  and  Fishes,  as  also  to  Comparative 
Anatomy  has  been  on  the  increase.  Some  rare  and  valuable 
works  have  been  added  to  the  Library.  Rich  donations,  have 
been  made  by  Correspondents,  in  foreign  specimens.  The 
Floral  Exhibitions  have  maintained  their  usual  and  proper  posi- 


tion.  The  Society's  Hall  have  been  ever  open  to  the  enquiring 
and  curious  ;  and  it  is  still  the  wish  of  the  Curators  and  others, 
that  the  public  may  feel  itself  interested  in  a  free  and  liberal 
invitation  to  a  participation  of  its  advantages. 

The  second  number  is  now  offered  in  the  spirit  and  intention  of 
the  Society's  plan.  The  articles  will  be  found  devoid  of  as 
much  of  the  technicalities  of  science  as  is  compatible  with  toler- 
able descriptions.  Hoping  to  interest  others  as  we  have  been 
interested  in  the  Natural  History  of  our  County,  these  simple 
efforts  and  gleanings  of  our  experience  and  labors  are  respect- 
fully submitted. 

Salem,  Mass.,  May  1,  1839, 


FAMILIAR  NOTICE  OF  SOME  OF  THE  SHELLS  FOUND  IN  THE  LIMITS 
OF  ESSEX  COUNTY,  MASSACHUSETTS :  WITH  REFERENCE  TO  DESCRIP- 
TIONS AND  FIGURES.  BY  JOHN  LEWIS  RUSSELL. 

THE  object  of  the  present  paper  is  to  give  a  simple  account  of 
a  few  shells  found  in  this  immediate  vicinity,  avoiding  as  much  as 
is  possible,  the  objection  of  scientific  and  technical  description. 
No  specimen  has  been  noticed,  which  has  not  been  found  within 
the  county.  I  have  taken  this  precaution,  that  one  of  the  pri- 
mary intentions  of  the  Society  should  be  fulfilled,  viz.  to  procure 
the  Natural  History  of  Essex  County. 

Scattered  throughout  a  multitude  of  various  scientific  publi- 
cations, and  oftentimes  unaccompanied  by  figures,  the  descrip- 
tions of  our  native  shells,  escape  the  observation  of  the  private 
student,  whose  access  to  libraries,  or  whose  privileges  in  the  use 
of  Cabinets  are  limited.  In  thus  collecting,  as  it  were,  these 
scattered  descriptions,  I  do  not  presume  on  originality,  but  only 
aim  at  usefulness.  To  this  end,  I  have  gathered  wherever  such 
information  came  in  my  way,  or  was  at  my  disposal,  interspers- 
ing private  observations  as  they  occurred  to  my  mind. 

With  a  few  exceptions,  the  species  are  marine  ;  the  land  and 
fresh  water  shells,  may  perhaps  constitute  another  paper  at  a 
future  time. 

PECTINARIA.     BELGICA.     Lam.     BELGIC  PECTINARIA. 

Brown's  Zoologist's  Text  Book.  pi.  92.  fig.  20. 
Conchologist's    "  pi.  19.  fig.  20. 

A  curious  shell,  made  up  of  small  particles  of  sand  loosely 
agglutinated,  and  shaped  like  the  foreign  Dentalium.  Care 
should  be  taken  in  collecting  it  as  it  is  very  fragile. 

Found  in  the  stomach  of  the  haddock,  offNahant. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

OBSERVATION.  May  be  found  in  great  abundance  at  very  low 
tides  at  Lynn  and  neighboring  beaches  ;  the  animal  is  very  cu- 
rious, and  to  be  captured  the  shell  should  be  very  suddenly  re- 
moved from  the  sand,  or  its  inhabitant  easily  escapes.  A  singu- 
lar fringed  head,  and  numerous  spiny  bands  or  joints  may  be 
noticed  on  the  body. 


43  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

SFIRORBJS,  Latin  A  Spiral  Orb. 
NAUTILOIDES,  resembling  a  Nautilus. 

A  pretty  and  minute  shell  found  in  profusion  on  sea  weed, 
(Algae,)  ivory  white,  curled.  In  order  to  preserve  specimens 
for  the  Cabinet,  it  is  better  to  select  a  piece  of  the  sea-weed, 
that  the  shells  may  remain  uninjured. 

Brown's  Zoologist's  Text  Book,  PI.  92.  fig.  15. 
Conchologist's     "  PI.  19.  fig.  15. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 


The  following  shells  belong  to  the  class  of  Molluscous  ani- 
mals called  CIRRHIPEDA,  i.  e.  having  feathered  feet.  They  are 
attached  to  other  bodies,  and  sessile  or  fixed  in  one  spot.  They 
may  be  found  in  the  class  X  of  Lamarck  and  under  his  1st  order. 

BALANUS,  Greek,  an  acorn. 
MISER,   Latin,  small,  insignificant. 

A  small,  sharp  angled  white  shell,  composed  of  many  valves, 
and  very  abundant  on  the  rocks,  pebbles,  and  other  objects  on 
the  sea  shore. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

BALANUS  OVULARIS.     Lamarck. 
Egg  shaped  or   oval   sea  acorn. 

A  larger  and  prettier  species  than  the  foregoing,  with  striated 
valves.  Found  on  the  piles  and  stones  of  the  bridge,  near  Legg's 
Hill,  last  summer,  by  Jos.  True,  sometimes  attached  to  the  liv- 
ing shells  of  the  common  muscle. 

Figured  in  Griffith's  Cuvier's  Animal  Kingdom  Molluscay 
p.  136.,  pi.  7.,  fig.  1. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

Kept  alive  in  sea  water,  (as  it  may  be  for  several  days)  it  will 
open  and  close  the  valves  of  its  mouth,  and  protrude  its  feath- 
ered feet  in  search  of  food,  presenting  an  interesting  spectacle. 

BALANUS  GENICULATUS.      Conrad.     Latin  genii,  a  knee. 

Kneed  sea   acorn. 

A  large  fine  species,  found  on  the  Lynn  beaches,  attached  to 
other  shells,  particularly  to  those  of  the  Horse  muscle  :  white 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  49 

with  prominent  longitudinal  ribs,  and  two  angular  elevations  on 
each. 

Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia, 
Vol.  VI.,  p.  265,  pi.  xi.,  fig.  16. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 


ORDER  II.  PEDUNCULATA,  i.  e.  having  foot  stalks  to  the 
shells.  Lam. 

ANATIFA.     Latin,  anas,  a  goose,  and  fero,  to   bear,  (from  an 
old  notion  that  the  barnacle  goose  was  produced  from  this  shell. 
Vide.  Drummond's  Letters  to  a  Young  Naturalist,  p.  148,  fig.  12.) 
LAEVIS,  Latin,  smooth.     Smooth  anatifa. 
SYN.     LEPAS  ANATIFERA.     L. 
PENTALEPAS    LAEVIS.     Blainville. 

Multivalve,  furnished  with  a  cartilaginous  stalk  or  stem,  by 
which  it  is  affixed  to  the  bottoms  of  vessels  and  to  floating  tim- 
ber. Edges  of  the  valves  covered  with  an  orange  membrane. 
Number  of  the  valves  five. 

Griffith's^Cuv.  Mollus.  pi.  2,  fig.  1.  Bosc.  coquilles,  pi.  46, 
fig.  1.  Blainville's  Manuel,  pi.  84,  fig.  3.  Brown's  Zool.  Text 
Book,  p.  92,  fig.  5. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

TEREDO.     Greek,  a  ivoodboring  worm. 
NAVALIS.     Latin,  belonging  to  a  ship.     Ship  worm. 

Found  in  the  sheathing  of  vessels  from  foreign  seas.  Some- 
times of  extraordinary  size  :  the  tube  attached  to  the  shell,  and 
which  is  formed  of  calcareous  deposit  to  line  the  drilled  hole, 
being  two  feet  long. 

Griffith's  Cuv.  Mollusca,  p.  122,  pi.  8,  fig.  2.  Brown's  Con- 
chol.  Text  Book.  pi.  18,  figs.  18  to  22. 

Very  fine  specimens  in  the  collection  of  the  East  India 
Marine  Society. 


50  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

PHOLAS.     Greek,  a  burroiv,  (in  allusion  to  Us  habits.) 

CRISPATA.     Latin,  crisped  or  curled. 
The  curled  shelled  Pholas  or  Piddock. 

A  fine  delicate  shell,  with  a  singular  spoon-shaped  tooth, 
beneath  the  beak  of  the  shell  and  within  ;  furnished  with  smaller 
pieces  or  valves,  varying  with  the  particular  species. 

Rare  on  the  beaches  of  Essex  Co.,  and  found  generally  in 
fragments,  or  single  valves. 

Brown's  Zool.  Text  Book,  pi.  92,  fig.  17.  Blainville's 
Manuel  pi.  79,  fig.  7. 

Brown's  Conchol.  Text  Book,  pi.  19,  fig.  17. 

PHOLAS  LAMELLATA.      Turton.     Small  plaited  Piddock. 

This  species,  of  which  some  doubt  is  entertained  of  its  identity 
with  the  British  specimens  as  figured  by  Turton,  was  found  at 
Phillips'  beach,  Lynn,  during  the  past  summer.  It  resembles 
the  young  of  Pholas  crispata,  but  differs  from  it  in  having  only- 
one  accessory  piece,  a  medio-dorsal.  Bores  into  the  clay  and 
also  into  decayed  wood  :  its  burrow  being  eight  inches  long, 
the  shell  occupying  the  middle,  and  the  animal  extending  above 
and  below,  so  as  to  completely  occupy  the  space.  Its  valves 
are  of  great  delicacy,  and  when  removed  from  its  burrow,  the 
attempt  of  the  animal  to  withdraw  itself  into  the  shell  often  rup- 
tures them.  About  an  inch  long,  pure  white  and  beautiful. 

Turton's  British  Bivalves. 

Presented  to  the  Society's  Cabinet  by  Jos.  True,  to  whom  I 
am  indebted  for  the  above  observations. 


The  following  are  BIVALVES,  i.  e.  having  but  two  shells,  and 
belonging  to  the  Class  XI.  of  Lamark,  viz.  CONCHIFERA,  i.  e. 
having  shells,  (there  being  Molluscous  animals  without  shells,) 
and  to  his  1st  order  BIMUSCULOSA,  i.  e.  having  two  muscular 
impressions  on  each  valve.  The  usual  habitation  of  this  group 
of  animals  is  in  mud  or  sand,  though  sometimes  coining  out  of 
it,  at  pleasure. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  51 

SOLEN.     Greek,  a  tube. 
ENSIS.     Latin,  a  sword.     Scimitar  shaped. 

The  Sivord  Solen  or  Sabre  Solen. 

Linear,  shaped  like  the  scabbard  of  a  sword,  white  within, 
brownish  or  green  without,  of  various  lengths  ;  sometimes  eight 
inches  long.  An  interesting  species.  Lynn  beaches  and  com- 
mon on  the  coast.  Fine  specimens  at  Plum  Island,  sometimes 
called  "  Long  Clam,"  on  the  South  Shore. 

Brown's  Zool.  Text  Book,  pi.  91,  fig.  11.     do.  Conchol.  Text 
Book,  pi.  18,  fig.  11. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

,        SOLENCURTUS.     Blamville.     Solen  and  curtus  short. 

COSTATUS.     Say.     Latin,  ribbed. 
SYN.      SOLEN   COSTATUS.     Say.     Journ.   Phil.  Acad.    Nat.   Sc. 

vol.  2,  p.  315. 

A  delicate  and  very  beautiful  shell,  very  abundant  on  the 
sandy  shores  of  Essex  County,  especially  at  Lynn.  Teeth, 
three  in  each  valve,  a  strong  white  rib  passes  from  the  beak  to 
the  base,  whence  its  specific  name.  Color,  brownish  without, 
pearly  violet  within. 

Say's  American  Conchology,  plate  18. 

GLYCIMERIS,  Greek. 
SILIQ.UA.     Latin,  pod-shaped.     Pod  Glycimeris. 

Shell  thick,  widely  gaping  at  each  extremity,  covered  with  a 
black  epidermis,  toothless  and  callous  near  the  hinge. 

A  shell  of  little  beauty,  living  in  deep  water,  and  eaten  by  the 
larger  fish.  A  specimen  with  the  animal,  with  several  others  of 
valves  only,  taken  from  the  stomach  of  a  cod  fish,  were  pre- 
sented to  the  Cabinet  of  the  Society,  by  Dr.  W.  P.  .Richardson. 

Brown's  Zool.  Text  Book,  pi.  xci,  fig.  7.  Do.  Conchol.  Text 
Book,  pi.  18,  fig.  7. 

MYA.     Greek,  a  muscle. 
MERCENARIA.     Latin,  for  sale.     Merchantable. 

Common  Clam.     Soft  Shell  Clam. 

This  shell  fish,  so  well  known  as  an  article  of  food,  and  abun- 
dant on  our  shores,  is  not  wholly  devoid  of  interest  as  a  conchol- 


62  RusseWs  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  ihe 

ogical  specimen.  Its  ciliated  foot  furnished  with  two  apertures 
(called  mouths)  bear  no  unapt  resemblance  to  a  small  zoophyte. 
This  is  protruded  from  the  burrow  of  the  animal  on  the  approach 
of  the  tide,  and  receives  with  the  wave  the  minute  objects  which 
constitute  its  food.  A  variety  of  tints  may  be  discovered  in  the 
valves,  from  a  deep  blue,  to  a  yellowish  and  even  pure  white. 
The  latter  color  obtains  when  the  shell  is  found  in  clay. 

Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.  p.  313.  Blainville's 
Manuel,  pi.  77,  fig.  1,  Bosc.  Coquilles,  pi.  41,  fig.  2. 

ANATINA.     Greek. 
LEAN  A.     Lea's  Jinatina. 

A.  small,  whitish  shell,  with  rounded  ends,  the  anterior  rather 
shorter  than  the  posterior,  elliptical,  fragile,  resembling  a  small 
Mya,but  differing  in  the  teeth,  "having  two  spoon  shaped  teeth 
instead  of  one  ;  "  each  tooth  in  each  valve  precisely  alike,  the 
ligament  inserted  between.  Named  in  honor  of  I.  Lea  of  Phil- 
adelphia, by  Mr.  Conrad,  its  discoverer. 

Lynn  beaches  and  the  shores  of  Essex  County. 

Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  vi.,  p.  263,  pi,  xi.,  fig.  11. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

MACTRA.     Latin,  a  kneading  trough. 

GIGANTEA.     Latin,  gigantic,   large. 

SYN.     MACTRA  SOLIDISSIMA  Say. 

Shell  thick,  very  large  ;  covered  with  a  pale  yellow  epidermis, 
which  becomes  more  or  less  destroyed,  as  the  shell  grows  older. 
The  prettiest  specimens  are  the  young,  and  these  according  to 
Du  Ravenel  have  been  mistaken  for  a  distinct  southern  species. 
M.  Similis,  (see  his  observations  in  "Catalogue  of  recent 
shells,"  Charleston,  S.  C.  1834.) 

Known  in  some  places  as  the  "Hen  Clam,"  and  considered 
excellent  food.  The  valves  are  often  used  in  dairies  for  skim- 
ming milk.  Found  after  a  severe  storm,  and  taken  from  the 
sand  only  at  low  tides.  Nahant  and  other  sandy  beaches.  En- 
cyclopedic Methodique,  pi.  259,  fig.  1.  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc. 
Phil.,  vol.  vi.,  page  257. 


Shells  found  in  Essex   County.  53 

MACTRA  GIGANTEA  varietya. 

A  small,  (young?)  specimen  I  have  lately  met  with,  on  the 
Lynn  beaches,  whose  valves  were  variegated  with  a  few  angular 
lines  of  black  ;  probably  accidental  and  subject  to  obliteration 
on  age. 

Variety  b.  Glaucous  green  with  three  or  four  broad  oblique 
transverse  bands.  From  stomach  of  fish. 

Cabinet  of  Society. 

MACTRA  ARCTATA.  Conrad.  Latin,  bent,  (posterior  margin 

curved.) 

A  pretty  and  rather  common  species,  especially  on  the 
beaches  of  Cape  Ann  ;  residing  in  small  burrows  in  the  sand, 
to  which  it  may  be  traced  by  a  slight  furrow,  made  by  the  edges 
of  the  shell  in  moving.  Color  white  or  very  slightly  yellow.  I 
have  seen  fine  specimens  from  Plum  Island. 

Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol  vi.,  p.  257,  pi.  xi,  fig.  1. 

Cabinet  of  Society. 

MACTRA  TELLINOIDES.  Conrad.  Tellina,  and  Greek,  similar  to 
Tellina-like  Mactra. 

Shell  ovate,  thin  and  very  fragile,  with  raised  lines  (striae;) 
resembling  a  tellina  from  a  slight  fold  on  the  smaller  side. 
Abundant  on  the  muddy  shores  of  South  River,  and  elsewhere 
in  this  neighborhood. 

Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol  vi.,  pi.  xij  fig.  4. 

Cabinet  of  Society. 

SOLEMYA.     Solen  and  Mya,  (signifying  that  the  shell  is  allied  to 

Solen  and  Mya.) 
VELUM.     Latin,    a  veil. 

The  veiled  Solemya. 

Shell  very  thin  and  fragile,  the  epidermis  extending  beyond 
the  valves  in  a  singular  manner,  furnishing  a  not  unapt  resem- 
blance to  a  veil  or  drapery.  Very  rare  ;  to  be  found  after  a 
long  storm,  and  then  generally  broken.  A  desirable  acquisition 
to  the  Cabinet. 
2 


54  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

A  very  fine  specimen  in  possession  of  Wm.  Oakes  of  Ips- 
which,  was  obtained  by  him  from  the  beach  of  that  part  of  Essex 
County. 


SANGUINOLARIA.     Latin,  blood,  (allusion  to  color  of  some  species.) 
FUSCA.      Conrad.     Latin,  dusky. 

Dusky  Sanguinolaria. 

A  common  and  rather  pretty  bivalve,  occurring  on  the  muddy 
shores  of  our  estuaries. 

May  be  collected  at  Winter  Island,  South  River,  and   else- 
where in  this  neighborhood. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

PANDORA.     Greek,  no  obvious  meaning. 
TRILINEATA.     Say.     Latin,  three  lined. 

Three  lined  Pandora. 

A  rare,  beautiful  and  pearly  shell,  occasionally  found  on  our 
beaches  ;  and  seldom  perfect.  Four  single  valves  only  have 
come  under  my  observation,  and  these  much  worn,  and  all  right 
valves,  being  distinguished  easily  by  their  more  convex  figure. 

About  an  inch  long;  posterior  margin,  very  round,  anterior 
beaked. 

Described  in  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.  p.  261,  and 
figured  in  Says'  American  Conchology,  pi.  ii. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 
My  Cabinet. 

SAXICAVA.   Bellevue.   Latin,  saxum,  a  stone,  and  cavus,  a  holhiv. 
DISTORTA.    Say.     Latin,  crooked. 

Distorted  Saxicava. 

The  name  of  Saxicava  was  given  to  denote  the  habits  of  this 
animal  to  hollow  out  stones  for  its  dwelling  ;  an  instinct,  I  be- 
lieve not  observable  in  the  present  species.  The  teeth,  which 
are  prominent  in  some  specimens,  are  seen  only  when  young, 
and  become  obliterated  as  the  shell  arrives  arrives  at  maturity, 
and  the  crooked  appearance  of  the  valves  also  disappears.  A 
curious  rather  than  pretty  shell,  and  probably  overlooked,  except 


.Shells  found  in  Essex   Counlij.  5.3 

by  minute  observers.  Found  occasionally  at  Lynn.  Length 
about  half  an  inch. 

Described  by  Say,  in  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii., 
p.  318. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

Obs.  I  have  found  it  more  abundant  on  the  shores  of  Maine 
than  in  this  vicinity. 

PETRICOLA.     Latin,  Inhabiting  rocks. 

FORNICATA.     Latin,  fornix,    a  furnace. 

Arch  ribbed  stone  borer. 

Shell  transversely  lengthened  out,  posterior  side  very  short  ; 
anterior  gaping  a  little.  Across  the  valves  are  numerous  lines  ; 
those  nearest  the  posterior,  furnished  with  ribs  or  arches, 
(costae.)  Teeth  two,  on  each  valve  ;  one  of  which  is  nearly 
divided  to  its  base,  giving  the  appearance  with  the  other  of  there 
being  three.  Color  white  ;  texture  delicate,  nearly  smooth 
within  ;  excepting  the  deep  grooves  towards  the  posterior  end. 

Described  very  minutely  by  Say,  in  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc. 
Phil.,  vol.  ii.,  page  219. 

SYN.  PETRICOLA  PHOLADIFORMIS,  Lamarck,  and  figured,  as 
such  in  Say's  Am.  Conch.",  pi.  60,  fig.  1.  A  poor  figure  in 
Brown's  Zool.  Text  Book,  pi.  xc.  fig.  17. 

Very  abundant  on  the  sandy  beaches  of  Essex  County,  and 
boring  in  great  quantities  into  the  hard  blue  clay,  at  low  water 
mark,  on  Phillips'  beach,  Lynn. 

This  beautiful  native  Mollusk  will  present  to  the  attentive  ob- 
server of  Nature,  an  interesting  subject  for  study.  Two  living 
specimens,  one  in  my  possession,  and  the  other  in  possession  of 
a  friend,  lived  for  several  weeks  in  apparent  health,  by  the  occa- 
sional change  of  sea-water.  With  a  little  sand  on  the  bottom  of 
the  vessel  in  which  it  was  placed  ;  my  specimen,  would  ele- 
vate or  depress  itself  by  the  muscular  action  of  its  body,  ex- 
tended from  the  edges  of  the  valves.  The  other  was  not  furn- 
ished with  sand.  Two  curious  tubes  similar  to  those  of  the 
Pholades,  were  extended  from  the  beaked  end,  the  aperture  of 
which  served  for  the  imbibition  and  rejection  of  water,  a  constant 
current  of  which  was  kept  up  when  these  tubes  were  beneath  the 


56  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

surface.     But  when  the  tubes  were  elevated  above  the  surface, 
an  occasional  jet  only  was  observable. 

The  orifice  at  the  tubes  exhibited  a  beautiful  structure.  A 
series  of  cilise  (hair-like  bodies)  delicately  fringed  on  both  sides, 
consisting  of  four  larger,  alternating  with  an  equal  number  of 
smaller,  seemed  intended  for  the  creation  of  a  current  of  water, 
similar  to  that  observed  in  the  Infusoria.  The  same  number  of 
short  and  obtuse  points,  without  any  fringe  were  inserted  on  the 
margin  of  the  tube  used  for  rejection  of  improper  substances, 
the  economy  of  which  does  not  appear. 

TELLINA.     (Jl  well  known  genus  of  great  beauty.) 
POLITA.     Latin,  smooth,  polished. 

Polished   Tellina. 

A  very  small,  smooth,    and  sometimes   rose-tinted   shell,    ap- 
pearing   concentrically  striated   under    a  magnifier.     Found   on 
sandy  beaches,  among  broken  fragments  of  other  shells,  in  some 
furrow  or  basin  made  by  the  tide.     Lynn,  Nahant. 
Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii,  page  276. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

TELLINA  TENERA.     Say.     Latin,  fragile. 

Fragile  Tellina. 

A  very  delicate  species   similar  to  the  proceeding  in  general 
appearance;  the  hinge  teeth  two,  the  larger  emarginate. 
Found  on  beaches  in  Essex  County. 
Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.  page  303. 
My  Cabinet. 

TELLINA  SORDIDA.     Couthouy.     Latin,  sordid,  mean. 

A  new,  rare,  and  inelegant  species,  discovered  by  Capt.  Jos. 
P.  Couthouy,  and  described  by  him  in  the  Boston  Journ.  Nat. 
Hist.,  vol.  ii. ,  page  59. 

"  Shell  oval,  somewhat  compressed,  bluish  white  without, 
miiky  white  within." 

Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.  plate  in.,  fig.  11. 

Taken  from  the  stomach  of  a  haddock,  off  Half-way  rock,  by 
Dr.  W.  P.  Richardson,  July,  1838,  and  presented  by  him  to  the 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County,  57 

ASTAUTE.      Sowerby,  (a  classical  allusion  to  the  Syrian  Venus.) 

CASTANEA.     Latin,  resembling  a  chesnut. 

Chesnut  Astarte  or  Sea  Chesnut. 

SYN.     CRASSINA.    Lamarck.   VENUS  CASTANEA.    Say.  Journ. 
Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.,  page  273. 

Shell  suborbicular,  closed  entirely,  hinge  teeth  strong,  dis- 
tinct, two  on  each  valve,  ligament  exterior. 

A  thick  almost  round  shell,  dark  brown  epidermis,  smooth  ; 
within,  pure  white,  crenated  on  the  edge.  Rare.  Beaches  of 
Essex  Co. 

My  Cabinet  and  that  of  the  Society. 

Say's  Am.  Conchol.,  pi.  1,  (a  beautiful  figure.) 

Obs.  Two  varieties  of  this  shell  seem  to  have  been  ascer- 
tained in  this  vicinity.  I  have  a  specimen  from  Cape  Cod, 
(Provincetown)  with  a  more  arquated  beak,  and  distinctly  ele- 
vated acute  ribs,  not  a  little  resembling  Venus  crassatella.  Blain- 
ville,  pi.  75.,  fig.  7. 

The  second  variety  seems  to  be  indicated  in  the  catalogue  by 
Thomas  A.  Greene,  appended  to  Hitchcock's  Geol.  Report,  thus 
"  Astarte,  a  distinct  species  with  margins  entire."  Perhaps 
his  and  mine  own  may  prove  identical. 

SYN?  Astarte  castanea  vary  B,  Totten.  Silliman's  Journ., 
vol.  28,  p,  348.  plate,  fig.  2, 


CYPRINA.     [nearly  related  to  Venus  :   a  classical  allusion.) 
Is  LAND  ic  A.     Lamarck. 

Islandic   Cyprina. 

Shell,  thick  suborbicular,  heavy,  covered  with  a  light  brown 
epidermis  ;   abundant  at  Nahant,  and  thrown  on  the  beaches  by 
violent  storms,     A  casual  observer  might  mistake  it  for  a  va- 
riety of  Quahog.     The  epidermis  at  once  distinguishes  it.     Used 
for  food  and  not  inelegant  in  appearance. 
Lister's  Conchology  Table,  272,  fig,  108. 
Blainville's  Manuel,  pi.  70.  bis.  fig,  5. 

Brown's  Zool.  Text,  Book,   pi,   89,  fig.  22.     Ibid.  Conchol. 
Text  Book,  pi.  xvi.,  fig.  22. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 


58  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

VENUS.     (Jlllusion  to  the  beauty  of  many  species.) 
MERCENARIA.     Saleable,  merchantable. 

Quahog.     Hard  clam. 

A  well  known  shell  fish,  more  esteemed  at  the  South,  (New 
York  and  New  Jersey)  than  with  us.  Probably  introduced  into 
our  estuaries  by  the  Indians;  from  the  purple  edges  of  the  valves 
of  which,  they  procure  their  wampum.  This  color  is  often 
exceedingly  rich,  and  sometimes  entirely  wanting. 

VENUS  GEMMA.      Totten.     Latin,  gemma,  a  gem. 

A  very  small  and  beautiful  species  of  a  bluish  purple,  inner 
margin  crenated,  common  size  1-lCth  of  an  inch  long. 

Totten  in  Silliman's  Journ,,  vol  xxvi.,  p.  367,  plate,  fig,  2. 

Found  among  sand  and  fragments  of  other  shells  in  the  mill 
pond,  near  the  Eastern  Rail  Road,  Salem. 

My  Cabinet. 

CARDIUM,     Latin,  a  heart. 

PINNATULUM.      Conrad.     Latin,  slightly  winged, 
A  small  yellowish  white  and  delicate  shell  with  about  26  ribs, 
slightly  muricated. 

Found  occasionally  on  Lynn  and  Ipswich  beaches. 

Journ.  Acad  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  vi.,  page  260,  pi,  XL,  fig,  8. 

My  Cabinet. 

NUCULA,  Latin,  a  small  nut, '  (from  a  resemblance  of  some  spe- 
cies.') LIMATULA.  Say. 

Shell  elongated,  green  without,  pearly  white  within,  margin 
entire,  teeth  prominent  and  numerous.  Rare,  Found  by  J. 
Chadwick,  among  the  Mytilus  edulis — by  J,  True  among  the 
Ostrea  virginica,  I  have  a  specimen  formerly  belonging  to  Prof. 
Peck,  taken  from  the  gullet  of  a  duck. 

Say's  Am.  Conchol,,  plate  12. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

NUCULA  TENUISULCATA.     Couthouy.     Latin,  finely  furrowed. 
A  curious  rostrated  or  beaked  species,  slightly  gaping  at  the 
extremity  of  the  anterior   portion.     Minutely  described   in   the 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  59 

Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  64.  I  beg  leave  to  dis- 
pute its  rarity,  as  the  Society  has  in  its  possession  very  many 
specimens,  taken  from  the  stomach  of  haddock,  in  the  summer  of 
1838. 

Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  pi,  iii.  fig.  8, 
JV.  B.     Strongly  resembles  Nucula  concentrica.     Say's  Am. 
Conchol.,  pi.  xii.,  but  which  however  is  fossil. 

NUCULA  MYALIS.     Couthouy.     Latin,  like  a  mya. 
Mya-like  Nucula. 

A  species  of  little  beauty,  first  described  by  Couthouy,  in  Bos- 
ton Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  n.,  p.  62,  pi.  cxi,  fig.  7.  "Shell 
ovate,  slightly  gaping  at  both  extremities,  with  numerous  ridges 
of  growth — teeth  20  to  22.  Color,  dull,  yellowish  white  within; 
epidermis  dark  olive."  When  this  is  worn  off,  the  shell  resem- 
bles a  young  Mya  or  clam.  A  glance  at  the  teeth,  near  the 
beak,  at  once  distinguishes  it. 

Lynn  beach.     Cabinet  of  Dr.  Wm.  Prescott. 


UNIO.     Jl  Pearl, 

COMPLANATUS.     Lea.     Latin,  flattened. 
SYN.     UNIO  PURPUREUS. 

Purple   Unio. 

Common  in  all  the  ponds  of  Essex  Co.,  and  occasionally  of 
much  beauty  ;    though  more  or  less  eroded  on  the  beaks. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

Nicholson's  Encyclopaedia,  3d  Am.  Ed.,  1819,  vol.  iv,  plate. 
Very  fine  specimens  of  varieties  have  been  collected  by  Dr. 
Prescott,  from  Flax  pond,  Lynn,  which  would  vie  with  any  from 
the  Western  States  ;  one,  in  particular,  should  be  mentioned  of 
a  most  superb  salmon,  and  were  color  of  nacre  alone  sufficient 
for  specific  distinction,  it  should  be  called  Auratus,  which  I  per- 
ceive is  a  species  of  RarTinesque,  and  regarded  as  a  synonym  by 
Conrad.  Another  is  curious  in  having  one  valve  purplish,  and 
its  corresponding  valve  orange.  Others  with  pure  white  nacre, 
are  of  great  beauty. 


"  60  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

UNIO  RADIATUS.  Say.  Latin,  rayed.  (Minding  io  the  green 
markings  on  the  epidermis.) 

Another  very  beautiful  native  species,  elegantly  striped  with 
transverse  rays  of  dark  green,  some  broader  than  others  :  upon 
a  lighter  green  epidermis  ;  within  bluish  pearl. 

Flax  Pond,  Lynn,  Dr.  Prescott . 

Cabinet  of  Dr.  Prescott  and  of  the  Society. 


UNIO  NASUTUS  (Say.)  Latin,  beaked,  (alluding  to  its  elon- 
gated and  sharp  form.) 

A  fine,  delicate  shell  ;  compressed,  fuscous  without,  within 
bluish  white,  teeth  crenate  :  more  or  less  distinctly  radiated. 

Described  in  Nicholson's  Encyclop.,  3d  Am.  Ed.  Phil.,  1819. 
vol.  iv.,  article  "  Conchology,"  with  an  accompanying  figure. 

Obs.  The  specimens  from  the  Hudson's  River,  N.  Y.  are 
usually  bluish  within  or  slightly  tending  to  purple,  but  speci- 
mens from  our  own  ponds  are  very  beautifully  and  deeply  purple, 
and  very  dusky  without.  Mr.  Conrad,  in  a  little  work  published 
in  1834,  mentions  the  fact  that  this  species  is  purple,  as  occur- 
ing  in  the  Schuylkill.  Pa.,  and  also  in  Chester  River,  Md. 

Pound  in  Flax  Pond,  Lynn,  by  Dr.  Prescott. 

His  Cabinet  and  Cabinet  of  the  Society. 


ANADONTA.     Greek.     Destitute  of  teeth. 
CATARACTA.     Latin,  belonging  to  streams. 
Common   in  ponds    and  still  ditches  in  this  vicinity.     Light 
green,  very  fragile   and  beautiful,  six  or  more  inches  in  length. 
Sometimes  found  in  the  Reservoir  of  the  Aqueduct,  at  Tapley's 
Brook. 

Nicholson's  Encyclopaedia,  vol.  iv.  plate. 


ANADONTA. 

IMPLICATA.     Say.     (No  obvious  meaning.) 
Shell  thin,   elongated,    somewhat  beaked,   very    dark  brown 
without,  pearly  within ;  common  in  ponds  of  Essex  County. 


Shells  found  in  Essex   County.  61 

The  following  belong  to  the  second  order  of  Lamarck,  viz. 
UNIMUSCULOSA,  i.  e.  having  but  one  muscular  impression  on  each 
valve. 

MODIOLA.     Latin,  a  little  measure. 
PAPUANA.     Lamarck.     "  Horse  Muscle." 

A  Genus  invented  by  Lamarck,  to  denote  some  trifling  distinc- 
tion between  this  shell  and  Mytilus  to  which  it  is  closely  allied. 
A  better  distinction  is  made  by  the  celebrated  anatomist  Poli,  on 
account  of  some  peculiar  organization  of  the  animal,  and  called 
by  him  Callitriche.  Very  common  on  our  beaches  and  washed 
ashore  by  the  gigantic  Alga,  "Laminaria,"  (kelp)  which,  being  at- 
tached to  the  shell,  tears  it  from  its  bed,  by  the  action  of  the 
waves.  Specimens  are  oftentimes  of  great  size,  and  of  consid- 
erable beauty. 

Say's  Am.  Conchol.,  plate  xlv.  Blainville's  Manuel,  pi.  Ixiv. 
fig.  3.  (A  poor  figure.) 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

MODIOLA    PLICATULA.     Lamarck.     A  Latin  diminutive,  little 
plicated. 

The  common  longitudinally  grooved  Muscle,  beautifully  pear- 
ly within,  and  on  the  removal  of  the  epidermis,  having  the  same 
pearly  lustre  without.  Fixed  by  a  silken  cordage  (byssus)  to 
piles,  piers  and  wharves,  and  adhering  to  each  other  in  similar 
situations.  Almost  incredible  stories  are  told  in  the  British  pub- 
lications of  the  strength  and  tenacity  of  these  shells,  in  preserv- 
ing from  destruction  structures  of  wood  and  stone,  from  the  vio- 
lent action  of  the  waves  by  means  of  the  byssus. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

MYTILUS.     Latin.     JL  kind  of  Muscle. 
EDULIS.     Latin.     Eatable.     Edible  Muscle. 
The  common  black  or  dark  purple  shell  fish,  so  abundant  on 
our  muddy  shores,  and  considered  a  delicate  article  of  food  in 
England,  more  than  in  this  country  ;  against  which  a  prejudice, 
founded  in  part  on  facts,  exists.     At  certain  seasons  of  the  year, 
the  animal  feeds  on  the  spawn  of  "The  Five  Finger/' (Asterias) 
which  renders  it  dangerous  or  at  least  suspicious  ;  instances  of 
3 


62  RusseWs  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

severe  indisposition  being  recorded  from  partaking,  under  such 
circumstances.  Rather  a  pretty  shell. 

Brown's  Zool.  Text  Book,  pi.  Ixxxviii.,  fig.  16.  Ibid,  Conchol. 
Text  Book,  pi.  xv.,  fig.  16. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

MYTILUS  PELLUCIDUS.      Latin.      Pellucid,  transparent. 

Pellucid  Muscle. 

Described  as  a  species,  but  in  reality  a  variety  of  the  preced- 
ing. Very  beautiful  and  very  various.  .  Sometimes  clear  amber  : 
or  with  a  few  delicate  lines,  or  purple  with  violet  stripes,  or  white 
with  blue  stripes.  Found  with  Mytilus  edulis. 

Figured  in  "  Letters  to  a  Young  Naturalist,"  p.  226,  fig.  26.  b. 
Pennant's  British  Zoology,  vol.  v,  plate  66. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

PEC  TEN.      Latin.      A  comb,    (some  have    longitudinal  ribs  like 

comb  teeth.) 

MAGELLANICUS.      Lamarck.       (Supposed  to   have  belonged    to 
straits  of  Magellan.) 
Magellan  Pecten. 

A  very  fine  and  large  Pecten,  abundant  at  Eastport,  Maine, 
a  native  on  that  shore.  Epidermis,  light  brown,  within  dingy- 
white. 

Occasionally  found  on  our  shores.     A  single  valve  very  much 
worn,  I  picked  up  near  Winter  Island,  several  years  ago,  and 
another,  in  possession  of  J.  True,  was  gathered  by  him  on  the 
Lynn  Beach. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

ANOMIA.     Greek.     Anomalous. 
EPHIPPIUM,  L.     Horse  foot  Jlnomia. 

Shell  thin,  paper-like,  grey,  one  valve  convex,  the  other  plane, 
at  the  upper  edge  of  which  is  a  circular  hole  :   (curious  ) 
Occasionally  met  with  on  the  beaches  of  Essex  Co. 
Blainville's  Manuel,  plate  lix.,  fig.  3. 
Bosc.  Coquilles,  vol.  ii,  plate  xxx.,  fig.  1. 
Letters  to  a  Young  Naturalist,  p.  223,  fig.  xxiv.  6. 
My  Cabinet. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  63 

TEREBRATULA.     Latin,  the  little  peircer.     (Jllluding  to  its  sup- 
posed habits.) 
SEPTENTRIONALIS.      Couthouy.     Latin.      Western. 

Western  Terebratula. 

Shell  oval,  valves  unequal,  one  very  much  beaked  and  perfo- 
rated, the  other  flat,  both  delicately  ribbed,  immaculate. 

A  single  specimen  of  this  elegant  little  shell,  was  procured 
from  the  stomach  of  a  haddock,  off  Half-way  Rock,  Aug.,  1838. 
Also  found  on  Lynn  Beaches. 
Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  pi.,  iii.,  fig.  18. 
Cabinet  of  Dr.  Prescott  and  of  the  Society. 


The  following  belong  to  the  Class  XII.  or  MOLLUSCA,  i.  e. 
soft  bodied  animals,  with  or  ivithout  shelly  coverings,  and  are  com- 
prised within  the  2d  order,  GASTEROPODA,  i.  e.  having  a  foot 
immediately  attached  to  the  belly. 

CHITON.     Greek,  a  coat  of  mail. 
FULMINATUS.     Couthouy.     Latin,  flamy. 
Zigzag  or  flamy  Chiton. 

The  curious  Multivalve  scaly  shells  to  which  the  present  is 
referred,  are  familiar  to  every  collector  of  foreign  species.  Oth- 
ers of  native  habitat  have  been  long  known,  while  several  new 
species  besides,  have  been  lately  discovered  and  described  by 
Capt.  Couthouy.  Unlike  the  specimens  from  foreign  seas,  ours 
are  small,  yet  beautiful.  The  beauty  of  C.  fulminatus,  it  needs 
a  close  examination  to  develope  ;  but  like  many  of  the  minute 
shells,  is  exquisitely  marked. 

Valves  granulated  in  quincunx  order,  dotted  with  white,  and 
having  zigzag  markings,  on  a  red  ground. 

Found  in  the  stomach  of  haddock,  in  Mass,  bay,  during  the 
summer  of  1838,  by  H.  Wheatland  ;  also  found  on  Lynn  beach, 
by  Dr.  Wm.  Prescott. 

Described  at  length  by  Couthouy,  in  Boston  Journ.  Nat. 
Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  page  80,  pi.  iii.,  fig.  19. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 


64  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

PATELLA.     Latin,  a  littte  basin.  >  (Both  in   allusion  to  its 

ALVEUS.      Conrad.     Latin,  a  trough.    $  figure.) 

SYN.    PATELLOIDEA.     (Gaimard.)     See    "  Couthouy's  Remarks 

on   two  species   of  Patelloidea."     Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist. 

Vol.  ii.,  p.  171,  &c. 

A  delicate,  semitransparent,  small  shell,  beautifully  diversified 
in  markings,  spotted  with  white,  scarcely  exceeding  one  fourth 
of  an  inch  in  length. 

Abundant  on  the  sandy  shores  of  the  vicinity,  especially  near 
Orne's  Point,  North  Salern,  and  contiguous  to  the  Marine  Rail- 
way, South  Salem. 

Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  vi.,  page  267,  plate  xi.,  fig. 
20. 

Cabinet  of  Boston  Society  of  Nat.  Hist.,  No.  777. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

PATELLA  AMCENA.      Say.      Latin,  pleasant,  delightful,    (signifi- 
cant of  its  beauty.) 
SYN.     PATELLOIDEA.     Gaimard. 

A  larger,  thicker  and  more  showy  species  than  the  preceding, 
and  not  so  common.  Within,  variously  marked  with  brown  and 
white,  sometimes  with  a  deep  margin  of  pure  white. 

Obtained  by  searching  at  low  tide  among  the  rocks,  to  which 
it  will  be  found  closely  adhering. 

Lynn  beaches  and  other  rocky  shores  on  the  coast  of  New 
England. 

Described  by  Say,  in  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.,  Phil.,  vol.  ii., 
p.  223. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

CREPIDULA.     Latin,  a  little  slipper. 
FORNICATA.     Latin,  an  arch. 
Arched  or  convex  Crepidula. 

A  Genus  nearly  related  to  Patella,  yet  quite  distinct.  Adhe- 
rent to  various  marine  substances,  this  shell  seldom  quits  its  res- 
idence ;  a  striking  similarity  in  habits  to  the  preceeding. 

The  present  species  bears  no  unapt  resemblance  to  a  boat, 
with  a  small  half  deck  ;  being  more  convex  than  most  others. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  65 

Bf3autiful  varieties  may  be  obtained  by  careful  search.  Those 
thrown  upon  our  beaches  present  little  interest,  being  bleached 
in  the  sun.  A  favorable  locality  is  on  the  flats  and  rocks,  near 
Beverly  bridge. 

The  fibres  and  sometimes  the  entire  leaves,  (fronds)  of  spe- 
cies of  sea  weed  (Algae)  are  often  seen  upon  these  shells.  The 
Laminaria  or  kelp  is  not  an  unfrequent  companion.  This  being 
produced  from  its  seed-like  bodies  upon  the  shells,  and  growing 
in  a  calm  sea  throughout  the  summer  months,  is  of  no  probable 
disadvantage  ;  but  no  sooner  do  the  autumnal  storms  commence, 
than  the  little  shell  fish  is  ungenerously  torn  from  its  situation, 
by  the  agitation  of  its  unwieldy  parasitic  neighbor,  to  be  cast 
upon  the  shore.  Rolled  pebbles  of  a  large  size  are  also  lifted 
from  the  bottom,  by  the  simple  and  perfectly  natural  agency  of 
this  marine  vegetable. 

Common  on  the  beaches  of  Essex  Co. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

•^  • 

CREPIDULA  PL  AN  A.     Say.     Latin,  flat.     .0 
Flat  slipper  Shell 

A  very  pretty,  pearly  vitreous  species  ;  about  an  inch  in 
length  ;  found  sometimes  perfect,  but  more  commonly  much 
worn.  Diaphragm  or  deck  occupying  half  the  length  of  the 
shell.  Shell  generally  flat,  but  sometimes  tortuous  or  reflexed, 
according  as  it  has  resided  on  a  plane  or  curved  substance. 

Lynn  beaches,  rare. 

Described  in  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  226. 

Say's  Am.  Conchol.,  pi.  xliv. 

My  Cabinet  and  that  of  the  Society. 

ANCYLUS.     Latin,  a  buckler. 
RIVULARIS.     Say.     Latin,  belonging  to  streams. 

River  Jlncylus. 

Shell  very  small,  exceedingly  thin  and  yellowish,  sometimes 
white  within  when  old  and  dead  ;  resembling  a  minute  Patella. 
Found   under  the  leaves   of  the  Yellow  Water  Lily,  (Nuphar 
advena  L.)  in  ditches,  ponds,  and  sluggish  streams. 
Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol  i.,  p.  125. 
My  Cabinet. 


66  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  Ike 

VELUTINA.     Blainville.     SYN.     GALERICULUM.     Brown. 

RUPICOLA.     Latin,   living  on  rocks. 

Rock   Velutina. 

A  very  delicate  shell,  first  discovered  by  Dr.  Charles  Picker- 
ing, (formerly  of  this  city,)  on  the  shores  of  this  vicinity,  affixed 
to  rocks. 

Fragile,  almost  transparent,  covered  with  a  brown  epidermis  ; 
aperture  very  large,  left  side  slightly  reflexed  into  an  apparent 
ootumella  :  whorls,  two  first  small,  body  whorl  large. 

Is  not  this  Oxynoe  glabra;  Couthouyl  Of  four  specimens  in 
my  possession,  no  two  are  exactly  similar.  One  is  covered  with 
the  epidermis,  and  was  taken  from  an  haddock's  stomach,  from  15 
fathoms  ^of  water.  The  three  others  collected  at  Phillips'  beach 
by  J.  True,  though  evidently  the  same  species,  yet  vary  in  them- 
selves. The  smallest,  a  little  more  than  0.02  inch  long,  has  no 
perceptible  reflexion,  is  covered  with  an  epidermis,  and  has  a 
dozeji  or  more  raised  longitudinal  striae,  which  by  comparison 
with  the  next  specimen,  seem  confined  to  the  epidermis  ;  its 
margin  more  reflexed;  the  last  smooth,  with  minute  striae,  light 
rose  color.  This  gradation  in  the  form  of  the  left  margin  would 
seem  to  agree  with  Blainville's  description  of  Velutina,  which 
although  "  Sans  collumelle,"  yet  presents,  ('ledroit  se  reunis- 
sant  au  gauche,  par  un  depot  calcaire,  lamelleux." 

These  shells  are  worthy  of  being  searched  for,  and  would  con- 
stitute no  mean  addition  to  any  collection.  A  very  fine  speci- 
men of  extra  size  is  in  possession  of  Wm.  Oakes,  gathered  by 
him  on  Ipswich  beach. 

Described  and  figured  in  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol  vi., 
p.  266,  pi.  xi.,  figs.  17,  18,  by  T.  A.  Conrad. 

See  also  Blainville's  Malacologie,  Art :  Velutina,  p.  469,  and 
forCouthouy's  Oxynoe  Glabra,  see  Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist., 
vol.  ii.,  p.  90.  Gould's  Report,  &c.,  April,  1838,  Catal  :  New 
Shells. 


The  Marine  Shells  only,  of  the  order  TRACHELIPODA,  are  de- 
scribed, as  follows. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  67 

NATICA.     Referring  to  its  cockle  or  boat  shape, 
HEROS.      Say.     Latin,  large. 

Saifs  large  Natica. 

A  familiar  and  well  known  shell,  sometimes  called  { 'cockle,"  and 
abundant  on  the  muddy  shores  of  our  estuaries,  and  not  uncom- 
mon on  the  beaches  among  kelp.     Very  little  can  be  said  in 
favor  of  its  appearance,  being  of  a  dirty  bluish  color  exteriorly, 
and  within  of  a  brownish  hue,  furnished  with  a  large  horny  oper- 
culum.      Sometimes  of  great  size.      Burrows,   under    the   mud 
throwing  it  up,  into  little  prominent  heaps.     One  of  those  Mol- 
lusca,  which  bore  other  shell  fish  to  extract  their  food. 
Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  243. 
Society's  Cabinet. 

NATICA.     TRISERIATA.      Latin.     Three  banded. 

Three  zoned  Natica. 

A  smaller  and  very  pretty  species,  with  three  more  or  less  dis- 
tinct interrupted   bands   of  dark   brown  ;   found  near  the   City 
Mills,  among  the  Zostera,  and  on  the  shores  oi  the  basin.     Also 
upon  the  beaches  of  the  vicinity. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

NATICA  CONSOLIDATA.     Couthouy. 

Thickened  Natica. 

A  new  species,  native  and  abundant  in  this  vicinity,  but  only 
taken  from  fish  in  deep  water  ;  it  has  been  hitherto  overlooked. 
About  the  size  of  the  proceeding,  more  solid,  of  a  dingy  white  ; 
umbilicus  nearly  closed  by  the  callus.  Seems  to  be  a  common 
and  favorite  food  of  the  haddock.  Many  specimens  were  col- 
lected for  the  Society  by  Dr.  William  P,  Richardson,  during  the 
summer  of  1838. 

Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  89,  pi.  iii,  fig.  14.  ' 
Cabinet  of  Society. 
i 

MELAMPUS      Monif. 
BIDENTATUS.     Latin.     Two  toothed* 

Two  toothed  Melampus. 

Shell  thin,  delicate,  of  a  dingy  brown,  almost  egg-shaped, 
aperture  long,  narrow,  two  prominent  teeth  on  the  labium  ; 


68  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

sometimes  prettily  banded.  Common  on  salt  marshes,  and  may 
be  found  crawling  up  the  stems  of  grass.  Also  washed  on  shore 
with  Patella  alveus,  on  the  sands  of  Orne's  Point,  North  Salem. 

Journ.  Acad  Nat,  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.,  p,  245, 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

LACUNA.     Latin,  a  furrow. 

PERTUSA.  Conrad.  Latin,  cracked,  or  having  a  hole, 
Shell  resembling  Turbo  or  Paludina,  having  a  spire  of  five 
whorls,  sutures  impressed.  Columella  deeply  furrowed,  with  a 
profound  umbilicus.  Found  on  the  beaches  of  Essex  Co. — 
Described  and  figured  in  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.,  vol.  vi.,  p.  266, 
pi.  xi.,  fig.  19. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society, 

NASSA.     Latin,  Nassa,  a  bow  Net  ? 
OBSOLETA.     Say.     No  obvious  signification. 

Whoever  has  observed  the  muddy  bottoms  of  our  docks  and 
shores  at  low  tide,  must  have  noticed  innumerable  black  shells, 
slowly  crawling,  or  stationary.  These  individuals,  thus  humble 
in  their  localities,  and  devoid  of  elegance  in  their  habits,  consti- 
tute the  species  before  us.  On  nearer  inspection  and  better 
acquaintance  they  present  a  tolerable  aspect,  not  wholly  wanting 
in  beauty.  The  aperture  is  of  a  deep  blue  purple,  and  beneath, 
the  epidermis  is  a  lighter  blue  tint.  Numerous  cancellate  spots 
cover  the  spires.  A  species  so  familiar  needs  but  a  passing 
notice. 

Described  by  Say,  in  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii., 
p.  232. 

Society's  Cabinet. 

NASSA  TRIVITTATA.     Latin,  three  fillets. 

Three  banded  Nassa. 

A  much  prettier  species  which  I  have  found  only  in  a  dead 
condition,  upon  our  sandy  beaches.  Pale  yellow  or  white,  gran- 
ulated, with  three  reddish  bands. 

Lynn  and  Nahant  beaches — common. 
Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  231. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  69 


TRICHOPTERIS.      Sowerby.     Greek,  triche  ;    hair,  bristle. 
COSTELLATUS.     Latin,  ribbed. 

Shell  ovate,  whorls  six  ;  lowest  larger  and  longer,  having  five 
or  six  prominent  ribs,  with  alternate  strite,  (markings.)  Interior 
brownish.  Epidermis,  yellowish  white  :  occasionally  hairs  or 
bristles  occur  at  the  edge  of  each  successive  growth,  giving  the 
shell  a  hairy  appearance,  and  suggesting  its  generic  name 
Might  be  mistaken  for  Purpura,  but  very  distinct. 

Described  by  Couthouy,  in  Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii., 
pi.  iii.,  fig.  2. 

Jay's  Catalogue  of  Shells,  p.  86,  pi.  i..  figs.  19  and  20. 

Taken  off  Halfway  rock  and  Nahant. 

Cabinet  of  Society.  ^rN 


BUCCJNUM.     Latin,  a  trumpet. 
UNDATUM,     Latin,  ivavy  or  waved. 
The  Wavy  or  Undulated  Buccinum. 

A  fine  large  univalve,  seldom  seen  in  perfection  on  our 
beaches,  although  very  fine  on  the  shores  of  Maine.  Shell  three 
or  four  inches  long,  ovate  conical,  ventricose,  obliquely  furrowed 
and  transversely  striated.  Aperture  of  a  fine  yellow  :  edge  of 
aperture  white. 

Brown's    Zool.    Text    Book,  p.  392,    pi.  Ixxxiv.,  fig.  14. 

Conchol.   "        "  pi.  xi.  fig.  14. 

Blainville's  Manuel,  pi.  xxii.,  fig,  4. 
Letters  to  a  Young  Naturalist,  p.  216,  (excellent.) 
Beaches  in  Essex  County, 
Cabinet  of  Mrs.  Dunlap,  Cabinet  of  Society  and  my  Cabinet. 


PURPURA.     Latin,  affording  a  purple  color. 

LAPILLUS.     Latin,  stone. 
The    Stone    Purpura   or  Dog    whelk. 

SYN.     BUCCINUM  LAPILLUS.     L. 

The  most  common  white  cockle  upon  the  rocky  shores  of  our 
coast,  frequently  used  by  marine  anglers  for  bait,  in  catching  sea 
perch,  (Crenilabrus  bergall)  varies  in  color  from  pure  white  to 
brown,  yellow  and  reddish,  sometimes  black — banded,  often 
beautiful. 


70  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

This  little  shell  furnishes  the  identical  color  rendered  so  fa- 
mous as  the  Tyrian  dye.  Linen,  accidentally  spotted  by  it,  has 
retained  its  indelible  impression  unchanged  by  any  application  to 
remove  it.  Equally  common  on  the  English  coast  as  on  ours. 
See  Drummond's  Letters  to  a  Young  Naturalist,  p.  233. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

PURPURA  IMBRICATA.     Lam.     Latin,  imbricate  or  scaly. 

An  evident  variety  of  the  preceding,  and  found  in  all  stages 
of  asperity  or  smoothness,  in  still  waters,  and  even  on  our  wave 
beaten  coast.  The  imbricate  or  scale  like  processes  upon  the 
whorls,  give  them  a  curious  and  pleasing  appearance. 

Among  Ulva  and  Zostera  (sea  weeds)  near  the  City  Mills. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

Fusus.     Latin,  a  spindle,  (alluding  to  their  usual  form.) 

DECEMCOSTATUS.      Say.     Latin,  having  ten  ribs. 

Ten  ribbed  Fusus. 

Fragments  only,  of  this  fine  native  shell  are  usually  found  upon 
our  beaches  ;  and  occasionally  a  perfect  specimen,  but  bleached 
and  dead.  Very  beautiful  and  perfect  specimens  I  have  received 
from  Dr,  Ray,  of  Eastport,  Me.,  where  it  occurs  in  native 
locality. 

Shell  two  and  a  half  inches  long  ;  whorls  five  or  six,  with  ten 
very  prominent  transverse  ribs  on  the  body  ivhorl,  a  character 
which  readily  distinguishes  the  species  :  minuter  transverse  and 
longitudinal  striae  between  the  ribs.  Aperture  about  half  the 
entire  length.  Interior  pure  white,  with  brown  markings  on  the 
lip,  (sometimes  grooved)  corresponding  with  the  ribs.  Epider- 
mis cinereous.  Lynn  beaches. 

My  Cabinet — Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

Fusus  CORNEUS.     Say,     Latin,  horn  like. 

Horn  colored  Fusus. 

Another  fine  species,  usually  found  in  more  perfection  than 
the  preceding.  Shell  more  elongated  ;  volutions  seven  or 
eight,  sutures  profound.  Perceptibly  striated  transversely, 
covered  with  a  light  green  epidermis  'which  when  perfect  gives  a 
fine  aspect  to  the  shell.  Beak  much  produced.  Aperture  more 
than  half  the  entire  length  ;  pure  white  within. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  71 

In  the  young,  frequently  taken  from  the  stomach  of  fish,  and 
about  half  an  inch  long,  the  transverse  striae  are  much  more 
perceptible. 

Say's  Am.  Conchol,,  plate  xxix. 

My  Cabinet. 

Fusus  CINEREUS.     Say,     Latin,  ashen. 
Ash-colored  Fusus. 

Shell,  short  fusiform,  cinereous  without,  reddish  brown  within; 
whorls  five  or  six  with  thick  longitudinal  ribs,  about  eleven  of 
which  are  on  the  body  whorl  ;  beak  short  and  a  little  reflected — 
outer  lip  somewhat  crenate.  Length  about  two  inches.  Com- 
mon in  our  estuaries,  especially  in  this  vicinity,  about  the  City 
Mills. 

Described  by  Say,  in  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.} 
p.  236,  and  in  his  Am.  Conchol.,  pi.  xxix. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

Fusus  HARPULARIUS.     Couth.     Latin,  resembling  a  harp. 

Shell,  small,  oblong,  turreted,  whorls  about  eight,  with  nume- 
rous oblique  ribs  ;  canal  short,  inclined  to  the  left. 

Described  in  Boston  Journ.  Nat  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  106,  pi.  i., 
fig.  10. 

Found  in  abundance  on  Lynn  beaches,  by  Dr.  Prescott  j 

His  Cabinet  and  Cabinet  of  Society. 

TURRITELLA.     Latin,  diminutive.     A  little  turret. 
EROS  A.      Couth.     Latin,  eaten  or  eroded. 

Shells  turretted,  whorls  about  ten,  gradually  tapering  to  a 
point ;  transverse  furrows  on  each  whorl  three  to  five.  Upper 
whorls  much  eroded.  Color  reddish  brown  or  lilac ;  with  an 
epidermis. 

An  exceedingly  pretty  little  shell,  first  described  by  Captain 
Couthouy,  who  found  it  in  the  maws  of  fishes  caught  in  our  bay. 
Specimens  taken  in  the  same  manner  off  Half-way  rock,  last 
summer,  by  Dr.  Wm.  P.  Richardson,  were  presented  to  the 
Society.  A  species  of  Pagurus,  (Hermit  crab)  seems  to  select 
this  shell  for  its  favorite  retreat. 

Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  103,  pi.  iii.?  fig.  1. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 


72  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

TURBO.     Latin,  a  wreath  or  whorl. 

PALLIATUS.     Say.     Latin,  having  a  cloak.     (JYb  obvious 
signification.) 

Shell,  almost  oval,  spire  very  obtuse  ;  length  about  one  third 
of  an  inch. 

A  most  common  and  exceedingly  pretty  little  native  univalve, 
profusely  abundant  on  the  Fucus  and  rock  weed  of  the  shores  in 
the  neighborhood.  With  a  little  attention,  several  interesting 
varieties  may  be  gathered,  sometimes  golden  yellow,  sometimes 
orange,  brown,  green,  dark  olive  with  broad  black  bands  ;  cin- 
erous  with  narrow  brown  lines,  and  occasionally  these  lines, 
(always  transverse)  are  in  pairs. 

Description  of  the  animal :  Tentacula  two,  filiform  ;  eyes 
black,  conspicuous  at  the  base  of  the  tentacula.  Tentacula  and 
foot  pale  reddish  yellow. 

Journ.  Acad  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  240. 

Society's  Cabinet. 

TURBO  VESTITA.  Say.  Latin,  having  a  garment.  (Probably 
alluding  to  its  dirty  pigment.) 

In  constant  contiguity  with  the  preceding  and  equally  inter- 
esting. Shell  conic  ;  whorls  six  ;  spine  elongated  ;  suture  be- 
tween the  whorls,  deep.  This  shell  is  sometimes  elegantly 
reticulated,  with  whitish  spots  on  a  greenish  ground. 

Every  where  on  the  rock  weed  (Fucus  nodosus)  of  our  shores. 

Journ,  Acad,  Nat.  Sc.  Phil.,  vol.  ii..  p.  241. 

Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

TURBO  OBLIGATUS,     Say. 

Found  with  the  two  proceeding,  but  in  my  own  experience 
much  rarer.  Whorls  five,  with  prominent  transverse  wrinkles, 
and  slight  longitudinal  striae.  Labrum  considerably  thickened  ; 
edge  of  the  labium  paler  than  the  interior  of  the  aperture. — 
Length  about  a  third  of  an  inch. 

Description  of  the  animal :  Tentacula  black  on  the  upper  side, 
and  white  on  the  under  side  ;  reddish  or  crimson  at  base,  near 
the  eye  which  is  black  ;  foot  cinereous  above  and  white  beneath. 
In  a  specimen  collected  in  Oct.  14,  1838,  were  numerous  eggs. 
Shores  of  Massachusetts  bay. 

Journ,  Acad.  Nat.  Sc,  Phil,  vol.  ii.,  p.  241. 

Cabinet  of  Society. 


Shells  found  in  Essex   County.  73 

TURBO  INFLATUS.     Totten.     Latin,  swelled. 
Totten's  swollen  Turbo. 

A  very  delicate  and  pretty  species,  not  so  common  as  the  pre- 
ceding, but  found  by  a  careful  investigation.  Color,  "brown- 
ish yellow  or  horn  color  :  operculum  round,  horny,  multispirate." 

Length  about  a  third  of  an  inch. 

Discovered  and  described  by  Lieutenant  Totten,  in  Silliman's 
Journal,  vol,  xxvi.,  p.  368,  fig.  5  of  plate. 

Found  near  City  Mills,  by  J,  True. 

My  Cabinet. 

TURBO  MINUTUS,    '  Totten,     Latin,  minute,  small. 

Little  Turbo. 

Shell  very  small,  conic,  thin,  whorls  six.  Color  yellowish  or 
brown,  within  whitish.  Length  an  eighth  of  an  inch.  May  be 
found  in  profusion  adhering  to  the  Confervse  in  the  ditches  on 
salt  marshes. 

Totten,  in  Silliman's  Journ.,  vol,  xxvi.,  p.  369,  fig.  6  of  plate. 
My  Cabinet  and  Cabinet  of  Society, 

TURBO  INCARNATUS.     Couthouy.     Latin,  flesh  colored. 
SYN,     MARGARITA.     Sowerby. 

An  exceedingly  beautiful  species,  taken  from  stomachs  of  cod 
and  other  large  fish,  by  Capt.  Couthouy,  and  described  by  him 
with  the  following  cospecies.  Shell  thin,  dark  red,  interior 
perlaceous,  resplendent, 

A  single  specimen  exists  in  the  Society's  Cabinet,  collected 
on  Phillips'  beach,  five  years  since,  and  others  have  been  sub- 
sequently found  at  the  same  place,  by  J.  True. 

For  minute  description,  see  Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii., 
p.  98,  pi.  iii.,  fig.  13. 

Cabinet  of  Society. 

TURBO  CINEREUS.     Couthouy.     Latin,  ashen. 

Shell  thin,  grey  colored,  whorls  five,  with  numerous  transverse 
elevated  striae  ;  umbilicus  deep. 

Couthouy  in  Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist,,  vol.  ii.,  p.  99,  pi.  iii., 
fig.  9. 


74  Russell's  Familiar  Notice  of  some  of  the 

Beaches  of  Essex  County ;  rare ;  taken  from  fish  in  deep  water. 
Found  with  the  living  animal  on  Phillips'  beach,  by  J.  True. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society. 

TURBO^OBSCURUS.     Couthouy.     Latin,  dull,  obscure. 

A  pretty  new  species,  more  or  less  pearly  under  the  epider- 
mis ;  thin  ;  a  single  line  on  each  whorl ;  aperture  nearly  circu- 
lar ;  operculum  horny. 

Described  by  Couthouy,  in  Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii., 
p.  100,  pi.  iii.,  fig.  12. 

Nahant  and  Lynn  beaches. 

My  Cabinet— Cabinet  of  Society. 


ADDENDA. 

CANCELLARIA  BUCCINOIDES.     Coutlwuy. 
Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  105,  pi.  iii.,  fig.  3. 
Shell  oval  ;  whorls  five.     Cross  barred  with  striae  and  points. 
Columella  with  three  oblique  striae.     Color  white  ;  resembles 
somewhat,  Nassa. 

Stomach  of  fish  at  Half-way  rock,  and  also  on  Lynn  beaches. 
Cabinet  of  the  Society  and  of  Dr.  Prescott. 

ROSTELLARIA  OCCIDENTALS.     Guerin;  Mag. 

Western  Rostellaria. 

Fragments  of  this  fine  shell  at  Phillips'  beach. 
I  possess  a  tolerable  specimen,  which  I   collected   at   Saco, 
Me.,  in  the  summer  of  1834. 

PYRAMIS.     Brown. 

STRIATULUS.     Couth.    Latin,  slightly  striated. 
Shell    elongated,   pyramidal ;    whorls   about    nine  ;    aperture 
ovate  ;  color,  bluish  white.     Rare.     Lynn  beaches. 
Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  101,  pi.  i.,  fig.  6. 
Cabinet  of  Dr.  Prescott. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  75 

MODIOLA  DISCREPANS.     Montague, 

A  small,  thin,  delicate  shell,  with  twelve  or  more  crenated 
elevated  lines  on  the  posterior  part  of  the  valves,  an  elevated 
single  line  passing  from  the  apex  of  the  shell  obliquely  to  base 
of  valve  ;  and  otherwise  minutely  striated  with  a  pale  yellow- 
ish epidermis,  and  white  perlaceous  within  ;  pretty. 

Lynn  and  Nahant. 

My  Cabinet  and  Cabinet  of  Society. 

Gould's  Report  and  Catalogue,  1838. 

THRACIA  CONRADII. 

Single  valves  of  this  shell  are  found  on  Lynn  beaches. 
Cabinet  of  Dr,  Prescott  and  of  the  Society. 

BULLA  TRITICEA.     Latin,  wheat,  (like  a  grain  of  wheat.) 

A  very  delicate,  small,  native  species,  found  occasionally  on 
our  beaches.  Shell  cylindric,  covered  with  brownish  or  rusty 
epidermis,  and  longitudinally  and  transversely  striated  ;  colum- 
ella  white,  and  reflected  on  the  body  of  the  shell. 

Lynn  beaches. 

Described  by  Couthouy,  in  Boston  Journ.  Nat,  Hist.,  vol.  ii., 
p.  88,  pi.  ii.,  fig.  8, 

Presented  to  the  Society's  Cabinet,  by  Dr.  Prescott. 

SCALARIA.     Latin,  a  stair  case. 
SUBULATA.     Couth.     Latin,  awl  shaped. 
Awl  shaped  wentle  trap  or  stair  case  shell. 
A  beautiful  little  native  species  of  this  fine  genus   so  well 
known  to  collectors.     Shell  tapering  to  a  sharp  point ;    whorls 
nine  ;    longitudinal  ribs  ten  on  the  body  whorl ;   pure  white  and 
deflected  a  little  from  the  base  of  the  ribs  on  the  next  whorl. 
Color  brownish  between  the  ribs  and  transversely  striated. 

Described  in  Boston  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p,  94,  pi.  iii., 
fig.  4. 

Lynn  beaches. 
Cabinet  of  Dr.  Prescott  and  of  the  Society. 


76  Notice   of   Vesperlilio    Pruinosus. 

SOLEMYA  BOREALIS.     Totten. 
Northern  or  Boreal  Solemya. 

Shell  oblong,  fragile  :  hinge  without  teeth.  Valves  radiated 
transversely.  Epidermis,  dark  brown,  extending  beyond  the 
edge,  where  it  is  paler  and  torn.  Color  within,  greyish  blue. 

Resembles  Solemya  Velum.  Say.  See  Journ.  Acad  Nat. 
Sc.  Phil.  vol.  ii.  p.  317.  ;  and  description  on  page  53  of  this 
paper. 

See  Totten,  in  Silliman's  Journ.  vol.  xxvi.  p.  368.  fig.  1. 

Found  on  Lynn  beach,  by  Dr.  Prescott,  (a  fine  specimen.) 


NOTICE     OP      THE     OCCURRENCE      OF      SPECIMENS     OP     VESPERT1LIO 
PRIHNOSUS.    Say.    HOARY    BAT.    Br    H.    WHEVTLAND. 

Description.  EARS  large  and  short  ;  aperture  of  the  nostrils 
widely  separated.  Canine  teeth  large  and  prominent ;  on  the 
upper  jaw,  one  distinct  cutting  tooth  on  each  side,  conical  in 
shape  and  placed  very  near  the  canine  ;  under  jaw,  six  incisors. 
The  under  side  of  the  anterior  margin  of  the  brachial  membrane 
covered  with  fur  of  a  yellowish  white  color  ;  the  upper  side  of 
the  interfemoral  membrane  is  likewise  covered  with  fur,  but  of 
a  ferruginous  grey  color  ;  the  fur  of  the  back,  long,  black  brown 
at  base,  then  pale  brownish  yellow,  then  blackish  and  then 
white,  thus  giving  to  its  general  appearance  a  variegated  hue,  in 
which  the  white  however  predominates  :  colors  beneath  similar 
to  those  on  the  back. 

Long's  Expedition  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  vol.  i.,  p.  167. 

Godman's  American  Natural   History,  vol.  i.,  p.  68,  pi.  iv., 
fig.  3. 

Harlan's  Fauna  Americana,  page  21. 

Harlan  in  American  Journal  of  Geology,  page  219. 


Notice   of   Vesperlilio   Pruinosus.  77 

Gray  in  Jardine's  Magazine  of  Zoology  and  Botany,  vol  ii., 
p.  498,  classes  the  present  species  in  his  Tribe  iii.  and  Genus 
Scotophilus  of  Leach. 

This  beautiful  and  somewhat  uncommon  species  of  our  Amer- 
ican Mammalia,  has  been  discovered  as  resident  in  this  vicinity. 
Three  specimens  have  been  presented  to  the  Society's  collection. 

The  first  was  captured  September  14th,  1838,  while  hanging 
from  a  grape  vine  contiguous  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Nath.  Pope, 
(near  the  crossings  of  the  Andover  and  Newburyport  turnpikes) 
Danvers.  Its  dimensions  were  as  follows.  Extent  of  wings  16 
inches.  Length  from  vent  to  mouth  3  inches.  Total  length 
from  tip  of  nose  to  extremity  of  caudal  membrane  5  1-2  inches. 
Breadth  of  forehead  between  the  ears  three  fourths  of  an  inch. 

The  second  specimen  was  captured  by  the  sons  of  Mr.  John 
Preston,  about  a  mile  north  of  the  Village  meeting  house,  Dan- 
vers, on  the  first  of  October,  1838  ;  confined  in  the  Society's 
rooms,  it  survived  several  days. 

The  third  was  taken  on  the  22d  of  November,  1838,  by  Mr. 
Rums  Tapley,  Danvers,  near  the  last  mentioned  place. 

Say,  in  Long's  Expedition  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  has  given 
the  first  description  of  this  species  of  Bat ;  and  we  are  indebted 
to  him  for  nearly  all  that  has  been  written  on  its  habits  and  char- 
acteristic marks.  He  mentions  it  as  being  common  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Engineer  Cantonment,  where  the  expedition  wintered  ; 
also  of  its  being  observed  near  Council  Bluffs,  by  Mr.  Nuttall ; 
and  that  the  late  Professor  Bartdn,  presented  a  specimen  of  this 
bat,  that  had  been  captured  in  Philadelphia,  to  the  Philadelphia 
Museum.  It  is  probably  common  in  ,the  Western  States,  but 
with  us  it  must  be  considered  as  remarkable  and  rare.  About 
thirty  years  since,  a  specimen  was  observed  by  .Mr.  Abel 
Nichols,  of  Danvers,  in  this  vicinity. 

The  present  species  may  be  considered  an  important  addition 
to  the  Natural  History  of  Essex  County,  and,  in  this  point  of 
view,  I  trust,  it  will  prove  interesting. 


A  SKETCH  OF  THE  GEOLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY  OP  THE  SOUTH- 
ERN  PART  OF  ESSEX  COUNTY,  IN  MASSACHUSETTS.  COMMUNI- 
CATED TO  THE  ESSEX  COUNTY  NATURAL  HISTORY  SOCIETY, 
APRIL  24,  1839.  BY  WM.  PRESCOTT. 

THE  following  sketch  embraces  the  city  of  Salem  and  the 
towns  of  Beverly,  Danvers,  Marblehead,  Lynn,  Nahant,*  Sau- 
gus  and  Lynnfield.  The  principal  rocks,  areSienite,  Greenstone, 
Porphyry,  Silicious  Breccia  arid  Brecciated  Porphyry,  Chlorite 
Slate,  Argillaceous  Slate,  Silicious  Slate,  Magnesian  or  Verd 
d'Antique  Marble,  and  Varioloid  Wacke.  Sienite  and  Green- 
stone are  by  far  the  most  abundant  rocks. 

GRANITE. 

No  bed  or  deposit  of  granite  occurs  in  this  section  of  Essex 
County.  A  few  scattering  bowlders  only  are  found  in  Lynn  and 
Saugus,  which  increase  in  size  and  frequency  as  you  proceed 
north,  through  Danvers  and  Lynnfield,  towards  the  beds  of 
Granite  in  Boxford.  These  bowlders  of  granite  are  of  a  very 
dark  color  from  the  black  mica  which  they  contain,  and  in  the 
north  part  of  Danvers,  frequently  occur  several  feet  in  diameter. 

Bowlders  and  masses  of  a  light  colored  granite  are  frequently 
seen  cast  upon  the  shore,  on  the  east  side  of  Nahant,  and  on 
Lynn  beaches. 

GNEISS. 

The  rocks  at  the  north  west  part  of  Danvers  are  more  or  less 
stratified,  evidently  the  termination  of  the  Gneiss  and  Mica  slate 
formations.  This  structure  may  be  seen  as  far  as  Newburyport 
turnpike,  and  occurs  rarely  south  east  of  that  road. 

*  Notwithstanding  Nahant  constitutes  a  part  of  the  town  of  Lynn,  yet,  isolated,  as  it  is, 
from  the  main  land,  stretching  several  miles  into  Massachusetts  Bay  ;  and  being  in  many 
respects  peculiar  in  its  geological  features,  it  will  in  the  following  sketch,  be  made  a  locality 
for  distinct  reference.  For  particular  localities,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Lewis'  map  of 
Lynn  and  Saugus. 


of  the,  Southern  part  of  Essex  County.  79 

ARGILLACEOUS  SLATE, 

Occurs  at  the  south  east  extremity  of  the  promontory  of  Na- 
hant,  associated  with  flinty  slate  and  argillaceous  limestone.  Its 
color  is  black,  ash  color,  and  occasionally  striped  with  green  and 
gray. 

SlENITE. 

An  extensive  bed  of  sienite  extends  in  a  north  east  and  south- 
west direction  across  the  south  part  of  Danvers,  the  south  part 
of  Lynnfield,  the  north  part  of  Lynn,  and  the  north  part  of 
Saugus  to  the  town  of  Chelsea,  This  range  is  bounded  by  Tap- 
ley's  brook  on  the  south  east,  and  by  Proctor's  brook  on  the 
north  ;  and  is  from  one  to  three  miles  in  width,  forming  in  many 
places,  high  hills  of  solid  rock,  and  craggy  cliffs.  Bowlders  of 
sienite  from  this  locality  are  easily  distinguished  from  those  orig- 
inating from  any  other.  No  bowlders  of  this  sienite  are  to  be 
found  to  the  north  of  Proctor's  Brook,  the  northern  boundary  of 
the  bed.  In  Danvers  it  is  extensively  quarried  and  wrought  into 
mill  stones,  and  into  all  those  architectural  articles  for  which 
granite  is  useful.  It  yields  a  considerable  income  to  the  citizens 
of  Danvers,  and  has  become  very  celebrated  in  makirig  mill 
stones  of  a  very  superior  quality. 

Another  range  of  sienite,  but  of  different  quality,  extends  from 
Flax  pond  in  Lynn,  to  the  ocean  at  Swampscut,  (also  in  Lynn.) 
This  sienite  is  traversed  by  numerous  trap  veins,  the  feldspar  is 
of  a  red  color,  and  the  proportion  of  hornblende  much  less  than 
in  the  Danvers  sienite.  This  variety  of  sienite  extends  on  the 
sea  coast  from  King's  beach,  Lynn,  to  the  line  of  Marblehead. 

A  bed  of  sienite  occurs  at  Beverly,  extending  in  a  north  east 
direction  from  the  north  end  of  Beverly  bridge,  towards  the  town 
of  Essex.  This  bed  is  but  a  few  rods  in  width  ;  greenstone  trap 
prevailing  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  leading  from  Beverly  to 
Gloucester,  on  the  south  east  ;  also  on  the  west  side  of  the  most 
eastern  branch  of  the  North  River,  on  the  north  west.  This 
Sienite  is  also  traversed  by  numerous  dykes  or  veins  of  trap, 
which  have  been  injected  into  it ;  some  of  which  are  several  feet 
in  thickness.  In  excavating  for  the  Eastern  Rail  Road,  sixty  or 
eighty  rods  north  of  Beverly  Bridge,  these  trap  dykes  are  ex- 
posed to  the  depth  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet  ;  several  of  which  are 


80         Prescolt's  Sketch  of  the  Geology  and  Mineralogy 

so  completely  disintegrated  as  to  be  converted  into  a  perfectly 
friable  earth,  or  soil,  of  a  dark  brown  color.  This  gives  to  these 
veins  a  singular  appearance  and  renders  them  worthy  the  atten- 
tion and  inspection  of  the  Geologist. 

The  north  eastern  section  of  Nahant,  is  also  composed  of 
sienite.  The  west  part  of  Nahant,  called  Bass  Point,  is  com- 
posed of  a  different  species  of  sienite,  the  hornblende  and  feld- 
spar being  in  nearly  equal  proportions. 

At  the  south  east  part  of  Little  Nahant,  occurs  a  singular 
rock,  composed  of  hornblende,  and  a  dark  reddish  brown  feld- 
spar, and  may  be  classed  as  a  variety  of  sienite. 

In  general  sienite  passes  into  greenstone,  and  often  by  insen- 
sible shades,  and  greenstone  may  be  seen  protruding  above  the 
surface,  near  the  base  of  all  the  hills  of  sienite,  and  often  crop- 
ping out  at  considerable  elevations.  The  same  occurs  among 
all  the  porphyry  hills  in  Lynn  and  Saugus. 

Although  bowlders  of  the  Danvers  sienite  are  never  seen 
north  of  the  bed,  yet  at  the  south,  they  occur  scattered  over  the 
greenstone  ridges  of  Salem  and  Marblehead,  and  over  the  por- 
phyry ridges  of  Lynn  and  Saugus.  Many  are  found  on  Nahant 
and  a  large  number  occurs  on  Little  Nahant.  These  bowlders 
resemble  the  Danvers  sienite,  and  differ  from  any  found  in  the 
vicinity. 

A  rock,  somewhat  different  from  any  other  in  its  composition, 
but  which  may  be  classed  with  the  sienite  rocks,  occurs  in  the 
west  part  of  Topsfield,  and  the  east  part  of  Middleton,  near  their 
junction  with  the  north  part  of  Danvers.  This  rock  is  com- 
posed of  red  feldspar,  quartz  and  green  chlorite  ;  the  chlorite 
taking  the  place  of  hornblende.  In  passing  north  through  Dan- 
vers, you  meet  with  small  bowlders  of  this  rock,  several  miles 
before  reaching  the  north  line  of  the  town,  and  as  you  advance 
north  they  increase  in  size  and  frequency  ;  until  (within  a  mile 
or  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  ledge)  the  stone  walls  are  chiefly 
composed  of  it.  This  ledge  or  parent  rock,  you  will  find  in 
place  on  both  sides  of  Nichols'  Brook,  in  the  corner  of  Middle- 
ton  and  Topsfield.  The  general  aspect  of  this  rock,  from  the 
red  feldspar,  which  is  the  most  abundant  ingredient,  will  very 
readily  distinguish  it  from  any  other  in  this  section  of  the  county. 


of  the  Southern  part  of  Essex  County.  8 1 

In  some  portions  of  it,  the  feldspar  is  compact,  and  the  mass 
appears  almost  homogeneous. 

GREENSTONE, 

Greenstone  trap  is  the  most  abundant  rock  in  this  section.  It 
prevails  in  Marblehead,  Salem,  all  that  part  of  Danvers  north 
and  east  of  Proctor's  Brook,  the  whole  of  Beverly,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  b«d  of  sienite  before  described,  and  the  east  part 
of  Lynn.  Greenstone  may  be  seen  also,  protruding  above  the 
surface,  near  the  base  of  all  the  faiils  of  porphyry,  in  Lynn  and 
Saugus,  and  also,  at  the  base  of  the  hills  and  ledges  of  sienite^ 
in  Danvers,  Lynn,  Saugus  and  Beverly.  Greenstone,  occurs 
on  the  west  side  of  Nahant,  including  Black  Rock,  and  also  on 
the  east  part  of  Little  Nahant. 

Dykes  of  a  fine  grained  compact  greenstone  or  trap,  from  one 
inch  to  forty  feet  in  diameter,  traverse  the  slate  and  sienite  in 
every  section  of  Nahant  and  Beverly,  as  well  as  the  coarser 
variety  of  greenstone  in  Salem  and  Marblehead. 

The  greenstone,  in  this  region,  presents  a  considerable  diver- 
sity of  aspect,  depending  on  the  general  structure,  or  on  the 
size,  proportion  and  mixture  of  its  constituent  parts.  In  some 
of  the  more  common  varieties,  the  two  ingredients  are  in  distinct 
grains  of  considerable  size,  like  those  of  granite,  aud  sometimes 
the  grains  are  so  minute,  and  SQ  intimately  and  uniformly  min- 
gled, that  the  mass  appears  altogether  homogeneous. 

The  chief  part  of  the  greenstone,  especially  in  Salem  and 
Marblehead,  is  injected  by  numerous  veins  of  sienite,  or  rather 
of  quartz  and  feldspar,  the  hornblende  generally  being  nearly  or 
quite  wanting.  These  veins,  which  traverse  the  greenstone  in 
every  direction,  are,  in  many  places  so  numerous  as  to  give  the 
rock  quite  a  brecciated  appearance.  This  appearance  is  very 
conspicuous  at  the  south  end  of  Beverly  bridge  ;  along  the  sea- 
shore at  Marblehead,  and  various  other  places,  where  the  rocks 
have  been  exposed  by  blasting  for  the  Eastern  Rail  Road,  and 
for  other  purposes. 

Many  of  the  trap  dykes  are  rendered  porphyritic,  which,  by 
contrasting  the  crystals  of  white  feldspar,  with  the  black  horn- 
blende of  the  trap,  becomes  quite  beautiful  when  polished. 

Greenstone  porphyry,  and  compact  feldspar  porphyry  passing 


82         PrescolCs  Sketch  of  the   Geology  and  Mineralogy 

into  greenstone  porphyry,  some  of  which  contains  crystals,  of 
a  beautiful  variety  of  green  feldspar,  occurs  at  Nahant  and  sev- 
eral places  in  Lynn,  as  will  be  more  fully  explained  under  the 
head  of  porphyry. 

PORPHYRY, 

The  only  range  of  porphyry,  extends  from  the  village  of  Wood 
End  in  Lynn  to  Chelsea,  through  Lynn  and  Saugus.  This 
range  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  the  range  of  sienite  before  de- 
scribed, and  on  the  south,  by  tide  water,  varying  in  breadth  from 
cue  to  two  miles,  forming  a  range  of  barren  hills  and  craggy 
cliffs.  The  base  of  this  porphyry  is  compact  feldspar,  its  colors 
various,  but  generally  some  shade  of  red  or  brown  ;  but  grey, 
purple  and  black  are  not  uncommon.  Some  portion  of  it  is  des- 
titute of  crystals,  so  from  this  circumstance  and  its  peculiar 
hardness  and  fracture,  it  has  generally  been  considered  as  a 
variety  of  hornstone. 

The  eminence  called  Lover's  Leap  in  Lynn,  and  a  spur  of 
Pine  Hill,  half  a  mile  west  of  Lover's  Leap,  are  composed  of  a 
solid  mass  of  this  species  of  compact  feldspar  or  hornstone.  It 
also  occurs  in  beds  throughout  the  whole  range  of  porphyry . 
The  most  important  localities  of  this  variety  of  hornstone,  are 
Red  Rock,  at  the  west  end  of  King's  beach,  Wood  End,  vicinity 
of  High  Rock,  vicinity  of  India  Rubber  Manufactory,  Lover's 
Leap,  south  east  spur  of  Pine  Hill,  Lynn,  besides  several  places 
in  Saugus. 

Several  of  the  trap  veins  traversing  the  trap  rocks  in  the  va- 
rious localities  of  this  formation,  are  rendered  porphyritic  by 
containing  distinct  crystals  of  feldspar.  There  are  several  of 
these  veins  or  dykes  on  Nahant,  Marblehead  and  Beverly,  which 
contain  crystals  from  half  an  inch  to  two  inches  in  diameter, 
some  of  which  are  hemitrope.  This  forms  the  black  porphyry  of 
the  ancients. 

The  compact  feldspar  porphyry  receives  a  good  polish  and 
will  become  valuable  whenever  the  wealth  and  demands  of  the 
country  shall  be  sufficient  to  defray  the  expenses  of  quarrying 
and  working  it.  A  peculiar  variety  of  greenstone  porphyry  oc- 
curs on  Bayley's  hill,  on  the  west  end  of  Nahant.  The  im- 
bedded crystals  are  green  feldspar,  some  of  which  are  beautiful. 


of  the   Southern  part  of  Essex  County.  83 

Compact  feldspar  porphyry  passing  into  greenstone  porphyry 
occurs  at  Nahant,  and  about  80  rods  south  of  the  Dye  Factory, 
Lynn. 


SILICIOUS  BRECCIA  AND  BRECCIATED  PORPHYRY. 

An  interruption  exists  in  the  porphyry  range,  before  described, 
by  a  bed  of  breccia,  which  extends  quite  across  it,  on  the  east 
side  of  Saugus  river.  This  bed  is  about  half  a  mile  in  width  from 
its  eastern  boundary  to  the  river  on  the  west,  and  not  far  from 
one  mile  in  extent  from  the  sienite  on  the  north,  to  tide  water  on 
the  south. 

It  has  the  appearance  of  being  thrown  up,  in  great  confusion, 
forming  precipitous  cliffs  and  narrow  ravines.  A  considerable 
portion  of  this  formation  is  a  conglomerate  rock  of  the  grey- 
wacke  series. 

The  celebrated  Pirate's  Glen,  is  situated  in  this  region.  This 
bed  of  Breccia  embraces  also,  Willis'  Hill,  (or  Tower  Hill,)  on 
which  is  situated  the  Lynn  Alms  House.  An  eminence  on  the 
west  side  of  Saugus  river,  about  half  a  mile  north  west  of 
Childs'  Mills,  has  its  southern  portion  made  up  of  porphyry,  and 
the  northern  of  the  same  species  of  breccia,  which  appears  to  be 
composed  of  fragments  of  porphyry,  compact  feldspar,  horn- 
stone,  jasper,  serpentine;  &c.  The  greatest  part  appears  to  be 
brecciated  porphyry,  but  large  portions  of  it  are  composed  of 
fragments  of  the  other  rocks,  but  quite  destitute  of  fragments  of 
porphyry,  forming  a  pure  silicious  breccia.  Specimens  of  this 
variety  can  be  obtained,  that  are  very  beautiful. 

Brecciated  porphyry  occurs  also  at  Red  Rock,  Lynn.  And 
it  is  a  fact  worthy  of  remark,  that  distinct  and  isolated  fragments 
of  compact  feldspar,  exist  in  nearly  all  the  porphyry  throughout 
the  whole  range  ;  but  in  some  places  they  abound  much  more 
than  in  others. 


A  few  bowlders  and  masses  are   occasionally  found,  thrown 
upon  the  eastern  shore  of  Nahant, 


84         PrescoWs  Sketch  of  the   Geology  and  Mineralogy 

"  AMYGDALOIDAL  TRAP/** 

In  Saugus,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  between  Childs'  mills 
and  Saugus  factory,  is  a  round  isolated  hill,  from  seventy  five  to 
one  hundred  feet  in  height,  in  which  occurs  a  rock  of  moderate 
hardness,  green  color,  and  argillaceous  odour  when  breathed  on, 
containing  imbedded  in  its  substance,  innumerable  white  sphe- 
roidal nodules  of  quartz,  feldspar,  and  carbonate  of  lime,  from 
the  size  of  a  pin's  head  to  that  of  a  rifle  bullet ;  but  few  however 
exceed  the  size  of  an  ordinary  pea.  This  is  the  vari&loid  wacke 
of  Professor  Hitchcock. 

About  half  a  mile  south  by  west  of  the  former  locality,  occurs 
another  of  the  same  rock,  but  the  imbedded  nodules  are  not  so 
numerous  as  in  the  former,  and  some  portions  of  the  rock  in 
both  localities,  are  entirely  destitute  of  these  imbedded  nodules, 
At  the  latter  locality  are  several  bowlders,  of  a  different  variety 
of  the  same  rock,  t)f  a  rich  chocolate  color.  The  parent  bed 
from  whence  they  proceeded  has  not  been  discovered.  The 
imbedded  nodules  are  similar  to  those  in  the  green  variety,  and 
of  the  same  white  color.  In  some  portions  of  one  of  these 
bowlders,  however,  the  imbedded  substance  was  of  a  greenish 
color,  and  not  so  distinctly  nodular. 

A  little  south  of  the  first  locality,  (the  round  hill)  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  last,  occur  numerous  bowlders  of  a  conglomerate 
variety  of  this  rock,  consisting  of  fragments  of  rounded  masses 
of  different  varieties,  some  of  which  are  of  the  amygdaloidal 
variety,  others  not;  some  a  darker,  others  a  lighter  green  ;  some 
more,  while  others  are  less  compact.  Some  portion  of  this  con- 
glomerate forms  a  beautiful  breccia,  and  is  probably  of  the 
grey-wacke  series. 

MAGNESIAN,  SERPENTINE  OR  VERD  D 'ANTIQUE  MARBLE. 

A  valuable  and  interesting  bed  of  Magnesian  Marble  occurs 
in  Lynnfield,  and  a  quarry  has  been  opened  near  the  centre  of 
the  town.  It  is  said  to  extend  from  three  to  five  miles  in  a  north 
east  and  south  west  direction,  but  in  no  place,  except  at  the 
quarry,  has  it  been  found  sufficiently  soft  to  be  worked  with  ease. 

*  Varioloid  wacke  of  Prof.  Hitchcock,  but  Dr.  Jackson  considers  it  as  Amygdaloidal  Trap. 


of  the  Southern  part  of  Essex  County.  85 

When  first  quarried  it  can  be  cut  with  a  saw  or  turned  in  a 
lathe,  but  in  this  state  it  will  not  receive  so  good  a  polish.  Af- 
ter being  exposed  to  the  atmosphere  it  becomes  dry,  much 
harder,  receives  a  good  polish,  and  is  a  good  substitute  for  mar- 
ble where  stones  of  a  dark  color  are  preferred. 

Near  the  surface,  it  is  so  much  divided  by  veins  of  asbestos 
and  other  foreign  substances,  as  to  be  of  little  value,  except  for 
the  manufacture  of  Epsom  Salts  ;  but  at  the  depth  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet,  slabs  sufficiently  large  can  be  obtained,  to  answer 
all  ordinary  purposes. 

This  bed,  in  all  probability,  is  the  dividing  line  between  the 
gneiss  formation  on  the  north  west  and  the  sienite  on  the  south 
east, 

From  100  parts  of  this  rock,  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson  obtained  by 
analysis  : 

Silica,    -v^fS?.1  '-"• "•  ••'•'':<••' '-'.?-,       \"*b''''"^    37 

Magnesia,      V":   4  .        / '              :'.(    ;V^; "   .\  42 

Oxide  of  Iron,    ,       .'*•]•  •*'  '•1;^'  vV  ^"  v'i  •    1'.' /".""'.  ~ 

Water,            .        -. ;     '.      /v         .      .   ,         .         .  ^ 

Loss,           .           .  ••   ;'.»    '     ^       VV*£   ^*:v;/:  ....       •  .     .   •  :         ^ 

100 

Dr.  Jackson  says,  that  from  100  grains  of  the  rock,  united 
with  sulphuric  acid,  may  be  prepared  127  grains  of  dry  Sulphate 
of  Magnesia,  or  198  grains  of  crystallized  Epsorn  Salts. 

This  will  give,  by  decomposition  with  the  carbonate  of  soda  or 
potassa,  98  grains  of  the  common  carbonate  of  magnesia  of  the 
shops. 

In  Roxbury,  works  have  been  erected  where  Epsom  Salts  are 
now  extensively  manufactured  from  this  rock. 


SIMPLE  MINERALS. 

CLASS  I.     ORDER  III,     GENUS  III.     LIME. 
Species  I .     Fluate  of  Lime.     A  few  specimens  at  Nahant,  one 
or  two  small  crystals  of  Derbyshire  spar,  also  at  Nahant. 
6 


86         PrescoWs  }  Sketch  of  the   Geology  and  Mineralogy 

Species  2.      Carbonate  of  Lime,     Calcareous  Spar. 

Var.  1 .  The  crystallized  and  laminated,  occur  at  Nahant, 
and  at  New  Cove,  Lynn,  some  brilliant  specimens  have  been 
obtained  ;  but  it  generally  occurs  in  thin  veins,  in  the  trap 
rocks  at  the  above,  and  at  some  other  places  on  the  sea  coast. 

Var.  2.  Fibrous  carbonate  of  lime — one  locality  of  this  va- 
riety has  been  found  on  the  east  side  of  Nahant,  at  Saunders' 
Ledge. 

Species  3,     Magnesian  Carbonate  of  Lime. 

Var.  I .  Rhomb  spar  occurs  at  the  south  eastern  part  of  Na- 
hant, in  a  vein  in  the  slate. 

Var.  2.     Dolomite  or  granular  Magnesian  limestone  occurs, 
associated  with  the  argillaceous  and   flinty  slate,  on  the  south 
eastern  part  of  Nahant,  between  East  Point  and  Castle  Rock. 
Species  4,      Silicious  Borate  of  Lime,  (Datholite,) 

A.  mineral  occurs  incrusting  the  trap  rocks  at  Saunders' 
Ledge,  Nahant,  which  appears  to  be  datholite  ;  but  as  it  has  not 
been  analyzed,  I  am  unable  to  speak  with  confidence. 

GENUS  IV.     MAGNESIA. 
Species  1.      Carbonate  of  Magnesia. 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia  occurs  at  Lynnfield,  in  veins,  in  the 
rnagnesian  marble  of  that  place. 


CLASS   II. 
Species   13.     Quartz. 

Var.  I.  Greasy  quartz,  occurs  in  veins  in  various  parts  of 
Lynn  and  Nahant,  but  New  Cove  is  the  most  celebrated  locality. 

Var.  2.  Bowlders  of  common  and  greasy  quartz,  are  to  be 
found  in  Danvers,  and  the  numbers  increase  as  you  approach 
the  northern  limits  of  the  town. 

Var.  3.  A  few  pebbles  of  yellow  quartz  are  to  be  found  on 
the  borders  of  Nahant. 

Var.  4.  Radiated  and  drusy  quartz,  occurs  in  veins  in  the 
slate,  on  the  south  eastern  part  of  Nahant ;  also  on  the  west 
side  of  Bass  Rock, 


of  the  Southern  part  of  Essex  County.  87 

Far.  5,  Crystallized  quartz  may  be  found  in  many  places,  but 
very  few  specimens  worthy  a  place  in  a  cabinet. 

A  very  interesting  variety  of  crystallized  quartz,  however, 
occurs  in  a  vein  in  the  trap  rocks,  near  Crystal  Beach,  Nahant. 
Many  of  the  crystals  are  tinged  with  the  green  chlorite,  which 
is  diffused  in  the  trap. 

The  width  of  the  vein  is  from  three  to  eight  inches,  and  the 
crystals  being  attached  to  the  sides  at  right  angles,  are  variously 
interlaced  with  each  other  ;  making  it  difficult  to  procure  good 
specimens. 

The  crystals  are  covered  with  a  coating  of  drusy  quartz,  and 
many  of  them  appear  to  have  been  once  broken,  the  two  extrem- 
ities more  or  less  displaced,  and  reunited,  forming  an  offset. 
The  crystals  of  quartz  at  this  locality  are  very  easily  broken  ; 
occasioned  by  the  chlorite. 

Sub  species  1.     Prase. 

Epidote  intimately  combined  with  either  quartz,  feldspar,  or 
hornblende,  occurs  abundantly  at  Nahant,  and  from  thence  along 
the  coast  to  Marblehead. 

Sub  species  2.     Chalcedony. 

A  few  small  pieces  of  chalcedony  have  been  found  on  the 
beaches  in  Lynn,  and  among  the  gravel  upon  the  track  of  the 
Eastern  Rail  Road, 

Sub  species  3.     Jasper. 

Saugus,  has  long  been  known  as  a  celebrated  locality  of  jas- 
per. It  occurs  of  a  beautiful  red  color,  in  a  plain,  on  the  west 
bank  of  Saugus  river,  about  qne  mile  northerly  of  Childs' 
Mills.  Some  portions  of  it  are  striped,  spotted,  or  clouded  with 
grey  or  white.  Until  recently,  this  was  the  only  locality  of 
jasper  known  in  this  section. 

It  is  now,  however,  well  known  that  great  abundance  of  dif- 
ferent shades  of  red,  purple,  green  striped,  spotted,  clouded,  va- 
riegated and  veined  jasper,  exists,  about  half  a  mile  west  and 
south  west  of  the  former  locality,  where  the  finest  specimens  of 
each  variety  may  be  obtained.  Some  portions  of  the  variegated, 
exhibit  a  beautiful  mixture  of  green  and  purple,  others  of  red 
and  grey,  and  others  of  purple  and  grey,  (or  white)  with  nume- 
rous ramifications  of  scarlet  colored  veins. 

The  veined  jasper  is  a  great  curiosity  ;  it  is  a  deep  red,  or 


83         Prescolt's  Sketch  of  the   Geology  and  Mineralogy 

dark  purple,  containing  numerous  ramifications  of  minute  veins 
of  a  scarlet  color,  exactly  resembling  the  minute  ramifications  of 
injected  blood  vessels.  These  veins  become  very  conspicuous 
upon  being  moistened  with  the  breath. 

Numerous  pebbles,  bowlders,  and  masses  of  beautiful  red, 
purple,  striped,  and  variegated  jasper  are  thrown  upon  the  south 
west  shore  of  Nahant,  between  Bass  Point  and  Crystal  Beach. 
Some  of  the  finest  specimens  have  been  obtained  from  this  place. 
The  locality  of  the  bed  must  be  beneath  the  ocean. 
Sub  species  4. 

Porcelanite  and  silicious  slate,  exists  at  the  south  east  part  of 
Nahant, associated  with  argillaceous  slate,  argillaceous  carbonate 
of  lime,  &c.  It  occurs  also  in  the  western  section  of  Topsfield, 
arid  eastern  section  of  Middleton,  and  bowlders  of  it  may  be 
found  in  the  north  part  of  Danvers. 

SPECIES  14.     MICA. 

A  foliated  variety  of  black  mica  occurs  on  Salem  Neck,  asso- 
ciated with  feldspar  and  foliated  hornblende.  The  lamina  vary 
in  size  from  an  inch  in  diameter  to  minute  scales  ;  and  when 
associated  with  foliated  hornblende,  it  is  difficult  for  the  eye  to 
distinguish  one  from  the  other.  In  this  instance  the  mica  seems 
to  have  assumed  the  place  of  quartz,  which  enters  largely  into 
all  the  compounds  of  hornblende  and  feldspar,  but  which  in  this 
locality  is  entirely  wanting. 

SPECIES  15.     SCHORL. 

Beautiful  radiated  black  schorl,  has  been  found  by  Dr.  A. 
Nichols,  on  a  bowlder  of  hornblende  rock,  about  half  a  mile  north 
of  the  South  Village  in  Danvers. 

SPECIES  16.     FELDSPAR. 

Feldspar,  exists  in  great  abundance.  It  forms  an  essential 
ingredient  in  sienite  and  greenstone,  and  occurs  crystallized  in 
various  species  of  porphyry,  and  associated  with  quartz,  horn- 
blende, epidote,  &c.  It  is  of  a  white,  gray,  brown,  green  and 
red  color,  and  of  various  shades. 

Large  hemitrope  crystals  of  a  grey  feldspar,  with  a  pearly  lus- 
tre, occur  in  the  trap  rocks,  about  the  middle  of  the  south  east- 
ern shore  of  Little  Nahant, 


of  the  Southern  part  of  Essex   County.  89 

A  variety  occurs  at  Marblehead,  which  very  much  resembles 
the  opalescent  feldspar  or  Labradorite.  It  is  of  a  grey  color,  and 
occurs  in  veins  in  the  trap  rocks. 

Compact  feldspar  exists  in  great  profusion,  especially  through- 
out the  region  of  porphyry.  A  variety  occurs  at  Beverly,  (Hos- 
pital Point)  in  which  are  imbedded  innumerable  minute  crystals 
and  grains  of  quartz. 

Most  of  the  hornstone  and  jasper,  in  Lynn  and  Saugus,  are 
supposed  to  be  compact  feldspar,  more  completely  fused. 

SPECIES  17,     EPIDOTE. 

An  exceedingly  beautiful  variety  of  epidote  exists,  in  great 
plenty,  in  veins,  in  the  sienite  and  greenstone  at  Nahant,  either 
alone,  or  associated  with  quartz,  hornblende,  and  other  minerals. 
It  occurs  also  with  quartz,  in  a  vein  in  the  sienite  at  New  Cove, 
Lynn.  Associated  with  other  minerals  it  occurs  throughout  the 
coast,  from  Nahant  to  Salem,  Marblehead  and  Beverly,  forming 
prase  and  other  aggregates.  Epidote  also  exists  in  narrow 
veins,  throughout  the  whole  greenstone  region. 

At  Nahant,  the  epidote  presents  all  shades  of  green,  from  a 
greenish  yellow  to  a  blackish  green,  and  some  specimens  are 
almost  black. 

SPECIES  18.     PREHNITE. 

A  beautiful  variety  of  crystallized  prehnite  was  discovered  at 
Saunders'  ledge,  east  shore  of  Nahant,  in  Sept.,  1837.  It  was 
expected  this  would  yield  a  supply  of  specimens  sufficient  for 
any  demands,  but  upon  blasting,  it  proved  that  the  inroads  of  the 
ocean  had  nearly  exhausted  the  vein.  A  few  good  specimens, 
only,  could  be  obtained. 

SPECIES  19.     ASBESTOS. 

Fibrous  ligniform  and  compact  asbestos,  occurs  in  veins  in 
the  hornblende  rocks,  on  the  east  side  of  Nahant,  (marked  on 
Lewis'  map,  "  the  Iron  Mine,")  These  veins  are  from  a  quar- 
ter of  an  inch  to  three  inches  in  diameter. 


90        Prescotfs  Sketch  of  the  Geology  and  Mineralogy 

SPECIES  20.     HORNBLENDE  AND   HORNBLENDE  ROCK. 

Hornblende,  is  diffused  in  great  abundance,  forming  essential 
ingredients  in  greenstone  and  sienite.  It  occurs  crystallized, 
foliated  and  compact,  at  Nahant,  Lynn,  Salem,  Marblehead,  and 
Beverly.  The  principal  localities  of  crystallized  hornblende 
are,  the  eastern  part  of  Nahant,  near  Hospital  Point,  Beverly, 
and  Marblehead.  The  most  celebrated  localities  of  the  foliated 
variety  occur  at  the  eastern  part  of  Nahant,  and  Salem  Neck. 
In  the  latter  place  it  is  associated  with  mica.  Foliated  horn- 
blende occurs  also  in  numerous  bowlders  of  hornblende  rock, 
which  are  found  scattered  in  great  profusion  in  almost  every  part 
of  Danvers.  These  hornblende  rocks,  are  more  or  less  im- 
pregnated with  chlorite,  which  imparts  to  them  a  greenish  color; 
the  chief  of  the  hornblende  is  of  a  jet  black,  some  however  has 
a  tinge  of  green. 

A  bowlder  of  hornblende  rock  has  been  found  in  Danvers, 
containing  columns  or  needles'  of  black  hornblende,  from  half  an 
inch  to  two  inches  in  diameter,  and  several  inches  or  a  foot  in 
length,  crossing  each  other  in  various  directions,  and  which, 
contrasted  with  the  quartz  and  white  feldspar,  of  which  the  base 
of  the  rock  is  composed,  give  it  a  picturesque  appearance,  not 
unlike  rocks  that  are  traversed  in  like  manner  by  crystals  of 
schorl.  Bowlders  of  an  indistinct  variety  of  hornblende  slate 
occur  at  Nahant. 

SPECIES  21.     CHLORITE  AND  CHLORITE  SLATE. 

Chlorite  and  chlorite  slate  exists  in  the  northern  and  eastern 
sections  of  Lynnfield,  and  the  western  and  north  western  parts 
of  Danvers.  It  exists  in  great  abundance  in  Reading,  and  part 
of  Middleton,  from  whence  great  numbers  of  bowlders  have 
been  carried  southwardly  into  those  towns  lying  in  that  direc- 
tion ;  some  of  this  chlorite  is  of  the  earthy  variety,  but  mostly  of 
the  foliated.  It  is  generally  of  that  peculiar  green  color  so  com- 
mon to  that  mineral,  but  in  Danvers,  where  it  approaches  the 
greenstone,  (and  is  associated  with  hornblende)  it  becomes 
darker,  and  at  last  nearly  or  quite  black.  Much  of  the  green- 
stone in  that  section  is  impregnated  with  it. 

Chlorite  occurs  at  Crystal  beach,  Nahant,  and  is  associated 
with  feldspar,  forming  a  species  of  sienite  at  Little  Nahant, 


of  the  Southern  part  of  Essex  County.  91 

Lynn,  Middleton  and  Topsfield.  From  the  latter  place  great 
numbers  of  bowlders  are  carried  into  the  north  western  part  of 
Danvers.  In  all  these  instances  the  feldspar  is  of  a  red  color. 


CLASS  IV.     METALS. 

The  southern  section  of  Essex  County  is  very  destitute  of 
metals,  no  metallic  bed  having  yet  been  discovered  ;  all  there- 
fore known  of  the  metallic  substances  is  to  be  found  in  diffused 
state. 

GENUS  IV.     COPPER. 

Pyritous  copper  is  found  in  small  masses  and  grains,  diffused 
through  the  trap  and  slate  rocks  of  Nahant. 

GENUS  V.     IRON. 

Species  1.  Sulphur  et  of  Iron  (Pyrites),  is  diffused  through 
the  trap  rocks  in  many  places  at  Nahant,  Lynn,  and  Saugus, 

Species  2.  Specular  oxide  of  Iron,  occurs  forming  a  drusy 
coating  upon  the  rocks,  at  the  south  part  of  Little  Nahant. 

Species  3.  Argillaceous  oxide  of  Iron,  (Bog-ore)  occurs  in 
Saugus,  near  the  Newburyport  turnpike. 

GENUS  VI.     LEAD, 

Species  1 .  Sulphuret  of  Lead,  ( Galena)  a  few  particles  have 
been  found  in  the  prase  of  Nahant,  and  in  a  vein  of  carbonate  ot 
lime,  near  Phillips*  beach,  Lynn. 

GENUS  VII.     MANGANESE. 

Species  1.  Oxide  of  Manganese,  occurs  in  beautiful  dendrites 
in  the  crevices  of  brecciated  porphyry,  in  Lynn,  a  few  rods  north 
of  the  establishment  for  the  manufacture  of  India  rubber  «loth, 
and  at  Lover's  Leap. 

But  the  most  splendid  dendrites  of  this  oxide,  occur  in  a  ledge 
of  porphyry  and  compact  feldspar,  at  Wood  End,  Lynn,  in  the 
track  of  the  Eastern  Rail  Road  ;  while  blasting  for  that  road  in 
1838,  vast  quantities  of  the  fragments  of  the  rocks  thrown  out, 
exhibited  upon  their  surface  a  most  fanciful  and  splendid  display 
of  dendrites. 


TWO    NEW   SPECIES   OF   MUSCI;   WITH   FIGURES:    By  JOHN  LEWIS  RUSSELL. 
PotYTRlCIIUM. 

(Section  I.     Hooker.)     Calyptra  naked.    CATHARINEA.  Ehrh. 

POLYTRICHUM    *INCURVATUM  I    Nobis. 

P.  foliis  lanceolatis  suberectis,  marginibus  planis,  apicibus 
serratis  :  nervo  valido  multipticato  undulato  :  theca  cylindracea 
cerniuscula. 

Obs.     Forsan  Polytriehum  Lcevigatwn.     Wahlenberg. 

Description.  Stems  short,  leaves  rather  delicate,  remarkably 
hygrometric,  curling  inward  at  the  tips  or  apices,  which  are  of  a 
reddish-brown  color.  Entire  plant,  scarcely  an  inch  in  height. 
Perhaps  it  is  Wahlenberg's  P.  lasvigatum,  which  it  resembles  in 
having  the  calyptra  "  perfectly  smooth.'* 


Entire  plant:  and  leaf  magnified. 


Habitat.  On  old  decayed  logs  ;  Chelmsford,  Middlesex 
County,  Massachusetts. 

Discovered  while  in  search  of  specimens  of  mosses,  April, 
1839. 

(Section  2.     Hooker.)     Calyptra  covered  with  filaments. 

POLYTRICHUM   *BoREALE.       Nobis. 

P.  foliis  lanceolatis  acuminatis  ;  marginibus  planis  ;  nervo 
totali  validissimo :  caulibus  brevissimis  :  pedunculo  terminali 
semiunciali  :  theca  cylindracea  recta,  operculo  conico,  centro 
breviter  apiculato  recurvato. 


Remarks  on  Hyla  femoralis,  fyc.  93 

Description.  Leaves  lanceolate  acuminate,  margins  plane, 
without  serratures,  minutely  toothed  near  the  summit :  nerve 
distinct  and  continued  to  the  tip  or  apex.  Stems  short :  fruit- 
stalk  terminal,  half  an  inch  in  length  :  calyptra  hairy  :  theca 
cylindrical  upright  :  lid  conic  :  beak  short  and  a  little  recurved. 


Leaf  magnified  :  entire  plant :  and  hairy 
calyptra  little  magnified. 


Habitat.  On  gravelly  banks  in  woods.  Littleton,  Coos 
County,  New  Hampshire. 

Observation.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  detecting  this  little  and 
interesting  species,  in  the  several  stages  of  its  growth,  with  and 
without  its  calyptra,  during  a  short  residence  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
White  Mountains,  in  the  winter  of  1837-8.  Its  diminutive  size, 
and  smoothly  margined  leaves  seem  to  denote  its  variation  from 
any  previously  described  species. 


THIS  species  of  Hyla,  called  peeping  frog,  seems  to  be  not 
well  determined.  In  the  Catalogue  of  the  Reptilia  of  Massa- 
chusetts, it  seems  to  be  considered  as  Hyla  Squirella  ?  Daudin; 
the  note  of  interrogation  implying  doubt  as  to  the  correct  spe- 
cific distinction.  Yet  the  Hyla  Squirella  of  the  Southern  States 
and  our  own  cannot  be  confounded.  This,  with  the  Hyla  versi- 
color  or  common  tree  frog,  or  tree-toad  as  it  is  more  usually 
7 


TWO    NEW   SPECIES   OF   MUSCI;   WITH   FIGURES:    By  JOHN  LEWIS  RUSSELL. 
POLYTRICIIUM. 

(Section  I.     Hooker.)     Calyptra  naked.    CATHARINEA.  Ehrh. 

POLYTRICHUM    *INCURVATUM  :    NoblS. 

P.  foliis  lanceolatis  suberectis,  marginibus  planis,  apicibus 
serratis  :  nervo  valida  multiplicato  undulato  :  theca  cylindracea 
cerniuscula. 

06s.     Forsan  Polytriehum  Lcevigatum.     Wahlenberg. 

Description.  Stems  short,  leaves  rather  delicate,  remarkably 
hygrometricj  curling  inward  at  the  tips  or  apices,  which  are  of  a 
reddish-brown  color.  Entire  plant,  scarcely  an  inch  in  height. 
Perhaps  it  is  Wahlenberg's  P.  laBvigatum,  which  it  resembles  in 
having  the  calyptra  "  perfectly  smooth.'* 


.Vote.  HYLODES  PICKERINGII.  This  beautiful  native  reptile,  first  described  and  figared 
by  Dr.  Holbrook,  in  his  North  American  Herpetology,  will  be  found  mentioned  in  this  num- 
ber under  an  incorrect  name,  viz.  (Hyla  femoralis,  var.  c.)  see  page  93.  The  Genus 
Hylodea  was  separated  from  Hyla  by  Zitzenger,  on  account  of  the  absence  of  a  sternum, 
(breastbone)  as  in  the  true  Hyla.  Our  distinguished  fellow  townsman,  Dr.  Charles  Picker- 
ing, now  attached  to  the  Exploring  Expedition,  discovered  it,  in  this  vicinity,  eight  or  ten 
years  since,  and,  as  a  new  species,  it  has  been  dedicated  to  him :  a  tribute  of  scientific 
respect. 


1839. 


(Section  2.     Hooker.)     Calyptra  covered  with  filaments. 

POLYTRICHUM  *BOREALE.     Nobis. 

P.  foliis  lanceolatis  acuminatis  ;  marginibus  planis  ;  nervo 
totali  validissimo :  caulibus  brevissimis  :  pedunculo  terminali 
semiunciali  :  theca  cylindracea  recta,  operculo  conico,  centro 
breviter  apiculato  recurvato. 


Remarks  on  Hyla  femoralis,  <^c.  93 

Description.  Leaves  lanceolate  acuminate,  margins  plane, 
without  serratures,  minutely  toothed  near  the  summit :  nerve 
distinct  and  continued  to  the  tip  or  apex.  Stems  short :  fruit- 
stalk  terminal,  half  an  inch  in  length  :  calyptra  hairy  :  theca 
cylindrical  upright  :  lid  conic  :  beak  short  and  a  little  recurved. 


Leaf  magnified  :  entire  plant :  and  hairy 
calyptra  little  magnified. 


Habitat.  On  gravelly  banks  in  woods.  Littleton,  Coos 
County,  New  Hampshire. 

Observation.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  detecting  this  little  and 
interesting  species,  in  the  several  stages  of  its  growth,  with  and 
without  its  calyptra,  during  a  short  residence  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
White  Mountains,  in  the  winter  of  1837-8.  Its  diminutive  size, 
and  smoothly  margined  leaves  seem  to  denote  its  variation  from 
any  previously  described  species. 


REMARKS    ON    HYLA    FEMORALIS,     OBSERVED    IN    THE    NORTH    PARISH 
OF    DANVERS.    BT  ANDREW  NICHOLS. 

THIS  species  of  Hyla,  called  peeping  frog,  seems  to  be  not 
well  determined.  In  the  Catalogue  of  the  Reptilia  of  Massa- 
chusetts, it  seems  to  be  considered  as  Hyla  Squirella  ?  Daudin; 
the  note  of  interrogation  implying  doubt  as  to  the  correct  spe- 
cific distinction.  Yet  the  Hyla  Squirella  of  the  Southern  States 
and  our  own  cannot  be  confounded.  This,  with  the  Hyla  versi- 
color  or  common  tree  frog,  or  tree-toad  as  it  is  more  usually 
7 


94  Remarks  on  Hyla  femoralis,  fyc. 

called  in  this  vicinity,  whose  croaking  in  the  orchards  and  about 
our  gardens  from  May  to  August,  is  so  frequently  heard  and  so 
little  admired,  even  by  naturalists,  becomes  particularly  clam- 
orous on  showery  days  and  in  warm  evenings.  But  the  cheerful 
notes  of  the  little  peeping  Hyla,  may  be  emphatically  styled  the 
"Voice  of  Spring,"  to  the  full  chorus  of  which  season  it  so 
largely  contributes. 

Description.  The  Hyla  femoralis  or  Peeping  Frog,  is  about 
one  inch  in  length,  of  a  fawn  color,  with  delicate  dots  of  black 
about  the  body.  These  dots  in  two  rows  form  a  cross  upon  the 
back.  The  eyes  are  very  prominent,  limbs  long,  slender,  formed 
for  great  activity.  In  fine,  it  possesses  in  a  high  degree  that 
form  and  beauty,  and  that  most  graceful  motion,  peculiar  to  the 
frogs. 

The  Hyloe  or  tree  frogs,  differ  only  from  other  frogs  in  the 
extremities  of  the  toes,  each  of  which  is  expanded  into  a  rounded 
viscous  pellet  or  tubercle,  enabling  them  to  adhere  to  the  sur- 
face of  bodies,  and  to  climb  trees  and  bushes  ;  where,  in  fact, 
they  remain  all  summer  living  upon  insects.  Many  of  them, 
chameleon-like,  have  the  power  of  changing  their  color  to  that  of 
the  bark  of  the  tree  to  which  they  adhere  ;  consequently  they 
are  seldom  noticed.  They  spawn  in  water,  and  in  winter  enter 
the  mud.  The  male  has  a  pouch  under  the  throat,  dilating  when- 
ever he  cries. 

Natural  Science  so  forbidding  to  most  minds  by  its  systems,  is 
happily  relieved  by  its  Poetry,  Who,  unmoved,  can  listen  to 
the  voice  of  spring — to  the  song  sparrow — to  the  blue  bird,  and 
even  to  the  little  peeping  frog  ?  And  what  are  these  emotions, 
which  fill  the  soul  with  gladness,  but  the  poetry  of  Nature — of 
Life  ?  The  human  mind  is  inquisitive.  It  wishes  to  know  more 
and  more  of  the  objects — the  beings  which  afford  it  pleasure. 
Many  of  our  race  have  received  delight  from  even  the  Hyla, 
who  knew  nothing  of  the  creature  save  its  voice.  Spring  after 
spring  it  has  saluted  their  delighted  ears,  from  every  fen  and 
morass,  like  a  fairy  sound,  telling  them  that  "  the  winter  has 
past — the  time  of  the  singing  of  birds  is  come."  But  few,  very 
few,  even  of  our  rural  population,  whose  dwellings  are  in  the 
midst  of  myriads  of  these  beautiful,  active  and  cheerful  little  rep- 


Remarks  on  Hyla  fe moralis,  $c.  95 

tiles,  ever  saw  the  frog  itself  ;  or  at  least  they  never  recognised 
it  as  the  creature  to  which  they  are  indebted  for  so  much  plea- 
sure. The  "voice  of  the  turtle,"  so  often  mentioned  in  Scrip- 
ture, in  connexion  with  the  text  above  quoted,  probably  gave 
origin  to  the  singular  notion  somewhat  prevalent,  that  the  spotted 
backed  turtle,  (Emys  punctata)  was  here  implied,  which  inhabits 
the  same  morass  whence  this  shrill  sound  proceeds.  Others 
suppose  it  to  proceed  from  the  speckled  frog,  (Rana  fontinalis) 
or  from  some  species  of  this  family,  with  which  they  are  better 
acquainted. 

About  forty  years  since,  a  farmer  boy,  I  first  satisfied  my 
own  curiosity  by  catching  the  creature  in  the  very  act  of  vocif- 
erating, the  well  known  monosyllable  peep — peep*  This  was 
effected  by  wading,  soon  after  sunset}  into  a  wet  meadow  where 
these  frogs  were  numerous.  As  I  approached,  every  voice  was 
hushed,  every  head  hidden.  I  stood  perfectly  motionless  for  a 
considerable  time,  until  at  length  an  individual  near  my  feet 
resumed  its  piping.  Presently  the  inflation  and  collapse  of  the 
membrane  beneath  the  throat,  (occasioning  the  emission  of 
sound)  caught  my  eye.  In  the  twilight,  nothing  more  of  the 
creature  could  be  seen.  With  a  quick  motion,  the  frog,  together 
with  a  handful  of  mud  and  grass,  was  seized,  borne  in  triumph 
home,  placed  in  a  glass  vessel,  and  examined  at  leisure. 

The  piping  of  the  Hyla  commences 'as  soon  as  the  frost  is  out 
of  the  swamps,  in  which  they  have  hybernated,  and  is  continued 
usually  through  the  month  of  May.  They  are  silent,  in  summer. 
The  same  note  from  a  solitary  individual  on  some  tree,  vine  or 
bush,  is  sometimes  heard  in  autumn  ;  but  whether  it  proceeds 
from  the  same  creature  or  from  some  other,  that  mimics  its  voice, 
I  have  never  been  able  to  determine.  It  is  not  improbable  how- 
ever, that  though  thus  out  of  season,  it  comes  from  the  frog 
itself.  Thus  also  in  the  autumn  a  few  trees*  will  blossom,  and 
birds|  sometimes  resume  their  spring  notes.  So  likewise  may  it 
not  be  inferred,  that  this  favorite  saluter  of  Spring,  sometimes 
though  rarely,  exhibits  this  anomalous  trait  ? 

*  The  apple  avd  pewr;  Cinnamon  Rose)  (Rosa  dnnaanomea]  Japan  Quince,  (Cydonia  japo- 
H/crt)  occasionally  blossom  in  autumn. 

f  The  blue  bird  (Sylvia  sialis.  Wilson)  often  fe  visits  the  spot  where  it  has  reared  its  young 
Ui*  previous  spring,  and  there  continues  two  or  three  days  before  its  departure  to  the  South. 


96  Notice  of  rare  Plants,  $c. 

With  a  specimen  of  the  common  tree  frog,  I  have  forwarded  to 
the  Cabinet  of  the  Society,  one  of  the  peeping  frogs,  captured 
in  a  swamp  in  North  Danvers. 

NOTE.  It  has  been  deemed  advisable  to  append  a  more  minute  description  of  this  inter- 
esting reptile.  A  careful  examination  enables  us  to  furnish  the  following. 

HYLA.  FEMORALIS  Le  Conte,  Ann.    Lye.  N.  Y.  Vol.  I.  p  280. 

*  Variety  c. 

Move  fawn  color,  changeable  to  dark  cinereous  ;  marked  with  two  transverse  narrow  black 
lines,  forming  a  cross,  and  an  irregular  narrow  line  on  each  side  producing  with  the  other 
lines  a  general  rhomboidal  configuration  5  a  large  triangular  spot  on  the  back  of  the  head, 
formed  by  the  junction  of  lines  proceeding  from  the  centre  of  the  irides ;  a  spot  at  the 
insertion  of  the  fote  legs,  rather  than  "an  angle  "  as  in  the  true  species  :  a  pale  yellowish 
line  margined  with  black,  bounds  the  back. part  of  the  fore  and  hind  legs;  an  irregular 
spot  on  the  extremity  of  the  rump  ;  beneath  granulated  on  the  abdomen,  legs  and  thighs  ;  a 
character  also  perceptible  in  some  degree,  on  the  upper  surface.  Head,  rather  obtuse,  lower 
lip  whitish;  throat,  cheeks  and  auricles  minutely  spotted  with  black  dots:  irides  golden- 
copper.  When  resting  on  a  dark  substance,  it  changes  at  pleasure  to  a  dark  ashen  hue,  the 
lines  becoming  ^black  and  piominent,  and  the  spots  on  the  head  and  rump  very  perceptible, 
as-  also  the  transverse  bars  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  legs.  v 

Length  of  body  from  snout  to  vent,  one  inch :  of  hinder  thighs  and  legs,  each  half  an  inch  ; 
of  tarsus  and  toes  7-10  Mis.  of  an  inch  ;  of  longest  toe  4-10  tJis.  of  an  inch.  Entire  length  of 
fore  legs  half  an  inch. 

The  present  specimen  may  be  the  young,  and  on  that  account  liable  to  vary  from  the  de- 
scribed species,  and  perhaps  the  season  of  the  year  may  have  some  influence  on  the  color. 


NOTICE     OF    RARE    PLANTS  ;    WITH      A    DESCRIPTION     OF    A    CURIOUS 
VARIETY     OF     CLADONIA     UNCIAL1S.    By  JOHJI  LEWIS  RUSSELL. 

CHARA  VULGARIS.     L. 
Bigelow's  Plants  of  Boston,  2d  ed.,  p.  334. 

Natural  order  Characeae.     Richard. 

I  met  with  this  obscure  but  exceedingly  interesting  aquatic,  for 
the  first  time,  in  a  brook,  running  parallel  with  the  Eastern  Rail 
Road,  on  the  farm  formerly  in  possession  of  I.  Tucker,  Esq. 
While,  with  a  friend,  searching  for  microscopic  objects  among  the 
Infusoria,  my  attention  was  drawn  to  the  floating  tufts  of  this 
brittle  and  crystalline  plant,  growing  from  the  bottom.  Submit- 
ting it  to  the  microscope,  we  had  the  pleasure  of  perceiving  the 
motion  of  the  sap  in  those  mysterious  and  beautiful  currents, 
better  known  among  botanists  as  Cyclosis.  Vesicles  of  a  glob- 
ular form  were  perceptible  traversing  the  internal  cavities  and 


Notice  of  rare  Plants,  8$c.  97 

vessels  of  the  plant,  sometimes  in  direct,  but  mostly  in  spiral 
channels,  now  flowing  with  accelerated  motion,  and  now  in  a 
slower  degree.  Whenever  internodes,  or  even  the  apparent 
rudimentary  gems  of  a  new  branch  occurred,  these  globules 
would  contract  so  as  to  allow  their  passing  round  the  knot,  and 
on  being  relieved  from  such  constraint,  would  instantly  recover 
their  former  size  and  shape. 

I  would  here  observe,  that  to  appreciate  fully  the  beauty  of 
this  phenomenon,  the  microscope  must  be  of  a  deep  penetrating 
power,  and  if  convenient,  an  achromatic  lens  should  be  em- 
ployed. For  further  particulars  of  this  curious  subject  of 
Cyclosis,  the  reader  may  consult  with  advantage  the  ingenious 
papers  of  Messrs.  Varley  and  Slack,  in  vol.  xlix.,  of  London 
Transactions  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  p.  179  and  seq.,  plates. 

Different  opinions  seem  to  have  been  entertained  respecting 
the  position,  which  this  plant  should  hold  among  the  classes  and 
orders  of  the  vegetable  system.  Vaillant,  first  established  the 
Family  of  Characeae  in  1719,  when  it  contained  the  single  genus 
Chara.  Linnaeus,  at  one  time  placed  the  plant  in  his  Crypto- 
gamia,  but  afterward  removed  it  to  his  class  and  order  Monoecia, 
Monandria  :  while  Richard  grouped  the  Characeoe  among 
Acotyledonea3,  to  which  they  seem  allied  and  approximate  to 
Marsilea,  in  the  common  structure  of  their  seed-vessels. 

The  original  specimens  collected  as  mentioned  above,  have 
been  growing  during  a  space  of  eighteen  months,  in  a  vial 
closely  sealed,  making  a  profusion  of  new  branches  and  seeds. 

ZOSTERA  MARINA.      Linnwi  species  Plantarwn,  1374. 

Eel  grass.     Sea-wrack. 
Natural  order.     Fluviales.    Lindley. 

In  a  search  for  shells  on  Plymouth  Beach,  last  summer,  I  had 
the  good  fortune  to  find  several  specimens  of  this  plant  in  full 
fructification.  Dr.  Bigelow,  in  his  Florula  Bostoniensis,  men- 
tions that  he  had  never  been  able  to  discover  it  in  this  condition. 
The  fact  is  worthy  of  notice. 

The  fruit  of  the  Zostera  is  disposed  in  two  rows,  in  sheaths 
formed  from  the  dilation  of  the  leaves,  infolding,  like  the  spathe 
of  an  Arum,  but  confined  to  the  middle  ;  the  leaf  assuming  its 
usual  ribbon-shape  immediately  above  the  seeds.  Each  of  these 


98  Notice  of  rare  Plants,  fyc. 

seeds  is  cylindric,  beautifully  ribbed  lengthwise,  and  somewhat 
wrinkled  between  the  ribs.  The  albumen,  of  a  singular  blue 
color.  On  comparing  a  specimen  with  the  fine  figure  of 
Prof.  Hooker,  in  Flora  Londinensis,  and  again  with  T.  467  of 
English  Botany,  and  also  through  the  suggestion  of  Geo.  B. 
Emerson,  (President  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History). 
I  am  inclined  to  think,  that  ours  is  a  distinct  species,  though 
seemingly  heretofore  confounded  by  American  Botanists,  with 
the  British  species.  A  subsequent  examination  gave  me  the 
following  results,  viz. 

1.  Greater  length  of  leaves  :    ours   being   many   yards — the 
British  according  to  Hooker  "  from  four  inches  to  a  span  long." 

2.  Want  of  distinct  sheaths,  at  base  of  leaves. 

3.  Leaves  of  American  species,  mucronate,  (ending   in  a  short 
point  :)  while  those  of  the  British  species  are  "  obtuse  at  the 
extremity." 

4.  Flower-sheath    at  a   greater    distance    from   the    sheaths, 
than    is    represented   in    the   figures    of  Hooker,    and   English 
Botany. 

This  part  of  the  subject  will  receive  further  attention. 

Zostera  belongs  to  the  natural  group  of  Naiadre  of  Jussieu, 
and  Potamophilae  of  Richard,  and  Fluviales  of  Lindley.  Lin- 
noeus  places  it  in  Gynandria  ;  Withering  in  Polyandria,  Polygy- 
nia  ;  and  in  this  country  Elliott,  Nuttall  and  Bigelow,  consider 
it  as  referable  to  Monoecia.  Its  Spathseform  floral  envelope 
allies  it  to  Aroideas,  as  noticed  by  Richard,  who  also  points  out 
the  real  distinction  between  each. 


EcHIUM  VULGARE.       L. 

Viper's  Bugloss.     Bigelow 's  Plants,  &c.,  p>  70. 

Natural  order.     Boraginse.     Jussieu. 

This,  though  a  common  weed  in  the  dry  pastures  of  England, 
especially  near  Cambridgeshire  and  Norfolk,  has  been  consid- 
ered remarkable  for  beauty,  and  for  striking  effect  when  growing 
in  masses.  Its  raceme-like  flowers  on  a  prickly  stem,  its  leaves 
studded  with  red  tubercles,  its  rosy  buds  and  rich  purple  blos- 
soms render  it  highly  conspicuous.  The  first  instance  of  its 
occurrence  in  this  vicinity,  was  noticed  by  me  during  the  past 


Notice  of  rare  Plants,  $c.  99 

summer,  near  Pickman's  Farm,  on  the  Eastern  Rail  Road.    For 
a  beautiful  figure,  see  English  Botany,  table  181. 


UTRICULARIA  INFLATA     Walter. 
Vesicular  Bladder-wort  :  Bigelow's  Plants,  p.  8. 

Natural  order.     Lentibularioe.     Richard. 
Specimens  of  this  elegant   plant  were  found  last  summer,  in 
Bartlemy's  Pond,  Danvers.     The  petioles  are  singularly  vesicu- 
lar and  buoy  up  the  foliage,  so  that  the  flowers  are  raised  above 
the  water. 

CETRARIA  ISLANDICA.     Iceland  Moss. 

Natural  order.     Lichenes.     Jussieu.     Cryptogamia.     Linne. 
Found   by  Dr.  A.  Nichols,  on  the  dry  hills  of  Danvers,  and 
by  myself  in  similar  situations  in  Hingham. 
Herbarium  of  the  Society. 

STICTA  AURATA.     Jlch  :  Methodus. 
Golden-edged  Lichen.     English  Botany,  table  2359. 
Description.      Thallus,  varying  from  rich  dark  brown  to  a  rich 
fawn  color  ;  superbly  edged  with  granulations  of  golden  yellow. 
Rare.     (A  tropical  .species.)     Fine  specimens   from    trunks  of 
Pinus  rigida  in  Kennebunk,  Me.,  Dec.,  1838. 

STICTA  PULMONACEA. 

Liverwort  Lichen. 

Said  to  be  rare  in  fruit,  but  I  obtained  excellent  specimens  in 
that  condition,  from  Topsham,  Maine,  May,  1838. 


BORRERA     FUHFURACEA. 

"  Lichenes  of  New  England.3"  Tuckerman.  Boston  Journ. 
Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  258. 

Doubtful  Synonym.     Evemia  purpuracea.     Mass.  Catalogue. 

Large  specimens,  frequently  in  fruit,  I  have  found  this  spring 
in  woods,  on  the  bark  of  pitch  pine,  Chelmsford,  Mass. 

B^EOMYCES   ROSEI7S.        Adi.    MelhodllS. 

Abundant  on  sand  near  Leach  pond,  Plymouth,  Mass. 


100  Notice  of  rare  Plants,  fyc. 

CLADONIA  UNCIALIS.      Jlch . 

Variety,  e.     *  Reticulata. 
Netted  Coral  Lichen.     Cryptogamia,  L. 
Natural  order.     Lichenes.     Jussieu. 

Stems  three  or  four  inches  long,  glaucous  green,  elongated, 
depressed,  carious  :  branches  numerous,  forked,  sometimes  per- 
forated in  the  axils,  but  generally  covered  with  a  net  work  ; 
summits  tending  to  cup-shape;  the  edges  proliferous,  and  branch- 
ed in  forks  ;  tubercles  minute  but  distinct^  brown. 

My  herbarium  and  that  of  the  Society. 

OBSERVATIONS.  The  genus  Cladonia  to  which  this  curious  va- 
riety belongs,  is  distinguished  by  its  upright  and  fistulous  stems, 
furnished  with  numerous  branches,  each  tipped  with  a  small 
black,  brown  or  red  body  (its  propagulum)  or  organ  for  contin- 
uing the  species,  analogous  to  those  stem-bulbs  seen  on  some 
kinds  of  the  more  perfect  vegetables.  Whoever  has  rambled 
over  dry  pastures  in  the  months  of  summer,  must  remember  the 
crackling  under  feet,  of  species  of  this  group  of  brittle  coral-like 
plants. 

In  it  may  be  found  the  valuable  Rein  Deer  Moss  C.  rangife- 
rinum,  and  the  beautiful  scarlet  C.  bacillaris,  which  delights  to 
grow  on  decayed  trees,  posts,  rails,  and  is  not  unfrequent  in  the 
interstices  of  large  sunny  rocks  contiguous  to  the  forest. 

The  subject  of  the  present  observations  was  found  in  Hing- 
ham,  Plymouth  County,  on  a  mild  sunny  day  of  the  last  winter, 
and  subsequently  in  great  abundance  at  the  same  place  among 
the  mossy  rocks  of  a  pasture,  south  east  of  "  Tranquility 
Grove  ;  "  a  sylvan  retreat  well  known  to  the  inhabitants  of  that 
town  for  its  delightful  shade,  and  pleasant  summer  pic  nic  par- 
ties. I  have  given  it  the  name  of  Netted  Cladonia  or  Coral 
Lichen,  and  consider  it  the  fifth  variety  of  Cladonia  uncialis, 
of  which  Acharius  in  his  Prodromus,  has  mentioned  four  pre- 
viously ascertained. 


REMARKS       UPON       SCARAB^US       GOL1ATU3      AND       OTHER      AFRICAN 
BEETLES    ALLIED    TO    IT.    BY  THADDEUS  WILLIAM  HARRIS. 

THERE  has  recently  been  added  to  the  Cabinet  of  the  Society 
a  gigantic  beetle,  belonging  to  the  genus  GOLIATH  of  De  La- 
marck. The  enormous  size4  extreme  rarity,  and  great  nominal 
value  of  the  African  insects  of  this  genus,  render  the  acquisition 
of  this  specimen,  which  is  in  perfect  preservation,  an  occurrence 
of  signal  good  fortune,  and  affords  a  suitable  occasion  for  some 
remarks  upon  the  species. 

The  earliest  account  of  them  on  record  is  contained  in  Dru 
Drury  >s*  "  Illustrations  of  Natural  History,"  a  work  in  three 
volumes,  quarto,  published  at  London  in  1770,  1773,  and  1782, 
and  illustrated  by  figures  of  exotic  insects,  drawn  and  engraved 
by  the  celebrated  entomologist  Moses  Harris.  Mr.  Drury 
seems,  for  many  years,  to  have  been  the  only  possessor  of  one 
of  these  beetles,  which  he  states  was  brought  from  Africa, 
where  it  was  found  dead  and  floating  in  the  river  Gaboon,  oppo- 
site to  Prince's  island,  near  the  equinoctial  line.  It  is  said  that 
this  specimen  cost  Mr.  Drury  the  sum  of  ten  pounds  sterling,  a 
high  price  as  compared  with  the  present  diminished  value  of 
money.  This  beetle  was  described  and  figured,  in  1770,  in  the 
first  volume  of  Drury  ?s  Illustrations,  page  67,  plate  31.  From 
this  description  and  figure  Linnseus  drew  up  a  specific  character 
of  it,  and  inserted  it,  in  1771,  in  his  "Mantissa  altera,"  under 
the  name  of  Scarabceus  Goliatus,  a  name  which  was  subse- 
quently adopted  by  Drury,  in  the  index  appended  to  the  second 
volume  of  the  Illustrations.  Mr.  Westwood,  the  editor  of  a 

*  Mr.  Drury  was  a  London  goldsmith  and  jeweller,  who  devoted  his  leisure  to  the  study 
of  natural  history,  and  particularly  to  that  of  entomology,  and  was  a  fellow  of  the  Linnaean 
Society.  His  collection,  in  the  increase  of  which  he  spared  neither  expense  nor  trouble, 
contained  eleven  thousand  insects,  which  after  his  decease,  were  sold  by  public  auction. 
Mr.  Diury  was  of  a  very  ancient  family,  and  it  is  believed  was  lineally  descended  from  i*ir 
Dru  Drury ,  of  Q,ueen  Elizabeth's  time.  He  died  on  the  15th  of  January,  1804,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty.  His  son  succeeded  to  his  business,  and  his  daughter  was  married  to 
a  Mr.  Andre,  a  merchant  in  London,  and  unele  to  the  unfortunate  and  lamented  Major 
Andre.  See  Gentleman's  Magazine  for  1804,  part  1,  p.  86. 

8 


102          Harris's  re.nwks  upon  Scarabceus  golialus,  fyc. 

new  edition  of  Drury's  work,*  informs  us  that  this  specimen  of 
the  Goliatus  came  into  the  possession  of  Dr.  William  Hunter, 
who  subsequently  bequeathed  it,  with  his  own  collection,  to  the 
University  of  Glasgow,  where  it  is  still  preserved,  and  forms 
one  of  the  most  interesting  objects  of  the  Hunterian  museum. 
This  beetle  remained,  for  a  long  time,  unique  in  Europe  ;  but 
there  is  now  another  one,  resembling  it  in  color,  but  of  inferior 
size,  and  with  the  horns  on  the  head  not  so  much  developed,  in 
the  magnificent  collection  of  W.  S.  Macleay,  Esq.,  of  London. 
While  the  Goliatus  was  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  Hunter,  it  was 
seen  both  by  Fabricius  and  Olivier,  and  the  latter  took  a  drawing 
of  it  for  his  {{  Entomologie,"  where"]"  it  is  referred  to  the  genus 
CETONIA.  More  recently  it  has  been  a  third  time  figured  in  Mr. 
Duncan's  volume  on  beetles,  pi.  16,  belonging  to  Jardine's 
"  Naturalist's  Library."  Although  it  has  been  repeatedly  rede- 
scribed  and  refigured,  I  believe  that  these  are  the  only  original 
figures,  and  that  all  the  others  are  mere  copies  from  them. 

The  Chevalier  De  Lamarck,  having  found  it  expedient  to 
propose  a  new  genus  for  the  reception  of  the  Scarabceus  (or 
Cetonia)  Goliatus  and  some  other  allied  insects,  regardless,  as 
he  always  was,  of  the  rights  of  his  predecessors,  converted  the 
Linntcau  specific  name  for  the  insect  in  question  to  the  generi- 
cal  name  of  Goliath,  and  substituted  that  of  Jlfricanus  for  the 
species.  The  characters  of  this  new  genus  were  published,  in 
1801,  in  the  Systeme  des  Animaux  sans  Vertebres,"  and  the 
general  name  was  retained  by  Latreille  in  the  first  volume  of  his 
"  Genera  Crustaceorum  et  Insectorum,"  which  appeared  in  the 
course  of  the  same  year.  Now,  however,  this  name  is  usually 
written  Goliathus  ;  and  to  the  species,  instead  of  Jffricdnus, 
that  of  giganteus,  proposed  by  Mr.  Kirby,J  is  applied,  in  the  new 
edition  of  De  Lamarck's  "Histoire  Naturelle  des  Animaux 
sans  Vertebres,"  and  in  Westwood's  edition  of  Drury's  work.§ 
Mr.  Duncan  calls  this  same  species  Goliathus  magnus. 


*  Illustrations  of  Exotic  Entomology,  &c,  by  DruDrury;  a  new  edition,  with  additional 
matter  by  J.  O.  Westwood.  3  vols,  quarto,  London,  1837. 

f  Entomologie,  Vol.  I,  No.  6,  page  7,  pi.  9,  fig.  33. 

J  Kirby  and  Spence.    Introduction  to  Entomology,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  33. 

$  Alluding  to  this  species,  in  the  third  volume  of  Drury'a  work,  pp.  54  and  55,  Mr. 
Westwood,  apparently  through  inadvertence,  calls  it  Goliath,  maxtmus. 


Harris's  remarks  upon    Scarabwus  goliatus,  fyc.         103 

The  second  species,  and  in  point  of  time  the  second  described 
individual  of  this  genus,  was  also  contained  in  Drury's  collec- 
tion, and  was  first  described  and  figured  in  1782,  in  the  third 
volume  of  this  author's  Illustrations,  page  55,  and  plate  40.  It 
was  procured  near  Sierra  Leone  in  Africa.  Drury  says  of  it, 
that  "  this  ^insect  is  of  the  same  genus  with  that  described  in 
Vol.  I.,  plate  31  ;  but  I  judge  it  to  be  a  different  species  ;  " 
and  "it  is  an  undoubted  nondescript."  Subsequently,  however, 
Drury  inserted  this  species  in  the  index  to  his  work  as  a  variety 
of  Scarabaius  Goliatus.  Mr.  Westwood  considers  it  to  be  a 
distinct  species,  and,  in  his  edition  of  the  Illustrations,  names  it 
Goliathus  Drurii,  in  honor  of  its  first  describer.  At  the  sale  of 
Drury's  insects  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Macleay,  senior,  for 
the  sum  of  £12.  1.  6.  sterling,  and  still  remains  in  his  collec- 
tion. Mr.  Westwood  says  that  "a  very  fine  and  recent  speci- 
men has  lately  been  received  by  Mr.  Havill,  of  Oxford  street, 
(London),  printseller  and  naturalist,  who  has  demanded  the  sum 
of  fifty  pounds  for  it  ;  "  and  I  am  informed  that  he  has  actually 
been  offered  and  has  refused  forty  pounds  for  the  specimen. 

The  insect  in  the  Cabinet  of  the  Society  is  the  third  known 
specimen  of  Goliathus  Drurii.  It  agrees  with  Drury's  figure  in 
all  essential  characters,  and,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection,  dif- 
fers from  it  only  in  having-  a  few  white  dots  on  each  side  of  the 
great  white  patch  on  the  elytra,  not  symmetrically  arranged,  but 
placed  irregularly  near  the  margin  of  the  patch.  It  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Society  in  November,  1837,  by  Dr.  Joseph  Far- 
num,  of  Salem,  and  was  brought  to  this  place  from  Africa  by  a 
seaman,  whose  account  of  it  is  substantially  the  following. 
About  two  years  ago  he  was  on  board  of  a  Salem  trading  vessel, 
which  put  into  a  small  port  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  be- 
tween Sierra  Leone  and  Cape  Palmas.  Whilst  there  the  vessel 
was  visited  by  the  natives  for  the  purpose  of  trade,  and  one  of 
them  brought  this  beetle  dead,  and  in  the  state  in  which  it  now 
remains.  The  natives,  furthermore,  said  that  these  insects  fly 
about  in  the  woods  during  the  night. 

In  1785,  Voet*  figured  and  described  another  species  of  this 
genus  under  the  name  of  Cacicus  ingens.  It  is  smaller  than  the 

*  Besclireibungen  und  Abbildungen  hartschaaligtcr  Insecten ;  Coleoptera,  Linn.    Vol.  I., 
p.  101.  pi.  22,  fig.  151.    Quarto,  Erlangen,  1785,  &c. 


104         Harris's  remarks  upon  Scarabceus  goliatus,  $c. 

two  preceeding  species,  and  the  elytra  are  entirely  of  a  pearl- 
white  color.  The  specimen  was  stated  by  Voet  to  be  a  native 
of  America,  and  to  belong  to  Renger's  rich  cabinet.  Olivier 
and  Fabricius  call  this  species  Cetonia  Cacicus,  and  repeat 
Voet's  statement,  that  it  is  a  native  of  America.  Mr.  Hope,  in 
his  little  work,  entitled  "  the  Coleopterist's  Manual,"  puts  down 
the  Cacicus  as  a  native  of  Guinea,  from  which  place  he  says 
that  he  has  received  a  specimen.  In  the  Cabinet  of  the  Mu- 
seum of  Natural  History  of  Paris  is  another  specimen,  which, 
though  it  resembles  Voet's  figure  of  the  Cacicus  in  most  re- 
spects, differs  from  it  in  having  a  triangular  black  spot  on  each 
elytron,  near  the  humeral  angle.  Messrs.  Gory  and  Percheron 
have  described  and  figured  it  in  their  "  Monographic  des  Ce- 
toines,"  p.  150,  pi.  24,  fig.  2.,  and  give,  as  its  native  country, 
South  America,  but  state  that  this  locality  is  not  indeed  certain. 

Dr.  Klug  is  said  to  have  described  a  female  of  some  species 
of  this  genus  in  Erman's  "Reise,"  under  the  name  of  Goli- 
athus  regius.  The  description  I  have  not  yet  met  with  ;  but 
Mr.  Westwood,  who  saw  the  insect  in  the  Royal  Museum  at 
Berlin,  says  that  it  has  the  head  unarmed,  and  that  it  agrees  in 
color  and  markings  with  the  G.  Drurii. 

One  more  insect  belonging  to  this  genus,  as  restricted  by  Mr. 
Hope,  remains  to  be  noticed.  It  is  in  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  Hope, 
who  received  it  from  Guinea,  and  ascertained  it  to  be  a  female 
by  dissection,  and,  on  the  fifty  ninth  page  of  his  "  Manual," 
states  that  he  thinks  probably  it  is  the  female  of  Goliathus 
giganteus.  While  the  Manual  was  passing  through  the  press, 
Mr,  Hope  added  some  interesting  observations  on  the  Gol- 
iathidae,  together  with  a  full  description  of  the  foregoing  female, 
under  the  provisional  name  of  G.  princeps,  with  the  following 
remarks.  "  In  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge  it  is  difficult 
to  decide  with  certainty  whether  this  insect  be  the  female  of  any 
of  the  already  described,  or  of  a  still  unknown,  species.  It  is 
better  therefore  to  give  it  a  provisional  name,  although  the  insect 
is  evidently  a  female,  than  let  it  remain  undescribed.  At  a  fu- 
ture time  it  can  be  changed  when  more  accurate  information  is 
obtained."  A  beautiful  figure  of  this  insect,  from  the  accurate 
pencil  of  Mr.  Westwood,  is  prefixed  to  the  Manual,  from  which, 
and  from  the  description,  it  appears  that  the  edge  of  the  clypeus 
is  rounded  and  unarmed,  like  that  of  the  regius. 


Harris's  remarks  upon  Scarabccus  goliatus,   fyc.         105 

The  genus  Goliathus,  as  restricted  by  Mr.  Hope,  has  the 
thorax  rounded,  is  peculiar  to  Africa,  (for  it  seems  that  the 
Cacicus  is  really  an  African  and  not  an  American  insect,)  and 
contains,  at  present,  only  the  five  foregoing  insects,  or  species, 
if  they  be  truly  distinct  from  each  other  ;  and,  of  these  Goliathi, 
only  the  ten  individuals,  which  I  have  enumerated,  are,  as  yet, 
known  ;  namely,  eight  males  and  two  females. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  De  Lamarck's  numerous  and 
unwarrantable  innovations  in  nomenclature*  should-  still  be  re- 
tained. Specific  names  are  the  property  of  the  first  describers 
who  make  use  of  them,  and  should  not  be  altered  or  removed. 
It  seems  to  me,  in  the  present  instance,  no  more  than  an  act  of 
justice  to  restore  the  original  Linnasan  specific  name  to  the  typ- 
ical species  of  Goliath,  or  Goliathus,  and  to  give  to  the  genus 
another  appellation.  I  propose  therefore  to  call  the  latter 
Hegemon^j  and  add  a  brief  description  of  the  insects  included 
in  it. 


Genus  HEGEMON.     Harris. 

1.  H.    Goliatus.      Clypeus   bifurcated  ;    thorax    black,    with 
seven  whitish  stripes  ;    elytra  chocolate-brown,   margined   be- 
fore with  white.     Length  over  four  inches. 

2.  H.   Drurii.      Clypeus    bifurcated  ;    thorax   cream-white, 
with  six  black  lines  ;  elytra  black,  with  a  common  triangular 
patch  and  the  outer  margin  cream-white.     Length  four  inches. 

3.  H.   Cacicus.      Clypeus   bifurcated  ;    thorax  ochre-yellow, 
with  six  black  lines  ;    elytra  pearl-white,  with  a  narrow  black 
border.     Length  over  three  inches. 

Var.  ?     With  a  triangular  black  spot  on  the  humeral  angle  of 
each  elytron.     Length  nearly  three  inches  and  a  half. 

4.  H.  Regius.     Is  said  to  resemble  H.  Drurii  in  color  and 
markings  ;   but  it  has  the  head  unarmed. 

5.  H.   Princeps.     Clypeus   entire,   rounded  ;    thorax    black, 
with  seven  ochre-yellow  stripes  ;   elytra  blackish,  at  the  sides 
and  tip  pearl-white.     Length  three  inches. 

*  How  many  of  the  Testacea  now  retain  the  specific  names  which  Linnrcus  gave  to  them? 
t  From  »;ye(«djv,  a  chief  or  commander. 


106         Harris's  remarks  upon  Scar  abacus  golial-us,  fyc. 

Mr.  Hope,  in  the  little  Manual  before  mentioned,  proposes  to 
divide  the  Family  Goliath-Ida,  as  he  calls  it,  into  two  groups  ; 
the  first  including  those  genera  in  which  the  thorax  is  rounded, 
and  the  second  those  in  which  it  is  trapezoidal,  or  broad  behind 
and  narrowed  before.  In  the  former  he  places  three  genera, 
Goliathus  (Hegemon^),  Dicronocephalus,  and  Incas ;  in  the  latter, 
Mecynorhina,  Dicronorhina,  Rhomborhina,  Jumnos,  and  an  un- 
named genus,  the  type  of  which  is  a  Mexican  insect,  the 
Goliathus  Hoepfncr  of  Gory  and  Percheron.*  The  genus  Incas 
or  rather  Inca  of  Lepeletier  and  Serville  comes  very  near  to 
Trichius,  is  peculiar  to  South  America,  and  contains  some  spe- 
cies of  large  size  and  considerable  rarity,  but  which  cannot 
compare,  in  these  respects,  with  their  African  prototypes.  Mr. 
Hope  does  not  inform  us  by  whom  or  where  the  characters  of 
Dicronocephalus  are  defined,  nor  does  he  name  the  species  upon 
which  the  genus  is  founded  ;  but  merely  gives  it  as  an  East 
Indian  genus.  I  think  it  probable  that  the  Goliathus  Wellech 
(Wallich  ?),  of  Gory  and  Percheron,f  may  be  the  type  ;  and, 
if  this  be  the  case,  the  East  Indian  genus  Narycius  of  Dupont, 
in  Guerin's  "  Magasin  de  Zoologie,"  for  1835,  pi.  128,  will 
probably  have  a  place  very  near  to  it,  in  the  first  group  of  this 
family.  The  characters  of  the  first  three  genera  in  the  second 
group,  with  a  trapezoidal  thorax,  are  given  by  Mr.  Hope  in  the 
Manual.  To  Mecynorhina,  the  magnificent  Scarabceus  Torqua- 
tus  of  Drury  is  probably  to  be  referred,  the  male  of  which  has 
recently  been  described  and  figured,  for  the  first  time,  by  Mr. 
Waterhouse,  in  Charlesworth's  "Magazine  of  Natural  His- 
tory," New  Series,  Vol.  II.,  page  635.  Of  this  insect,  which 
is  nearly  three  inches  in  length,  or  scarcely  inferior  in  size  to 
the  species  of  our  genus  Ifcgemon,  and  is  also  a  native  of  the 
western  part  of  Africa,  only  two  individuals  are  yet  known  ; 
one,  a  female,  with  the  clypeus  unarmed,  the  original  unique 
specimen  from  Drury's  cabinet,  "is  still  in  existence,  and 
graces  the  rich  collection  of  Mr.  Macleay  ;  "  the  other,  a  male, 
with  the  clypeus  produced  into  a  long,  pointed,  recurved  horn, 
was  lately  obtained  at  Sierra  Leone,  by  Lieut.  Strachan,  in 

*  Monogr.  des  Cetoines,  page  154,  pi.  2G,  fig.  2. 
|  Monogr.  des  Cctoiweg,  page  154,  pi.  2G,  fig.  1. 


Harris's  remarks  upon  Scarabceus  goliatus,  fyc.          107 

whose  collection  it  is  preserved.  The  type  of  this  genus  is  the 
Celonia  Polyphemus  of  Fabricius.  The  following  remarks, 
made  under  this  species  by  Mr.  Hope,  may  serve  as  a  caution 
to  those  persons  who  possess  rare  and  valuable  insects,  and  will 
show  to  this  Society  the  necessity  of  immediately  providing  for 
the  safe  keeping  of  their  specimen  of  Hegemon  Drurii.  "  This 
insect  (Mecynorhina  Polyphemus),  for  many  years,  was  consid- 
ered unique,  and  was  the  chief  ornament  of  the  Banksian  cab- 
inet :  it  has  been  stolen  from  thence  by  some  individual  un- 
worthy of  the  name  of  naturalist.  I  regret  to  state  also  that  a 
box,  containing  some  rare  and  singular  insects,  from  Sierra 
Leone  and  New  Holland,  has  disappeared  from  my  own  collec- 
tion." The  Polyphemus,  however,  is  not  lost  to  science  ;  for  it 
seems  that  there  is  a  specimen  in  the  cabinet  of  Messrs.  Gory 
and  Percheron,  who  have  described  and  figured  it  in  their 
Monographic. 


JOURNAL 


OF     THE 

ESSEX    COUNTY    NATURAL   HISTORY    SOCIETY. 


THIRD     AND    LAST    NUMBER. 

IN  bringing  the  Journal  to  a  close,  a  few  words  may  be 
expected  by  way  of  preface. 

Since  the  issue  of  the  second  number,  materials  of  vari- 
ous character  have  been  from  year  to  year  collecting.  These 
were  offered  at  the  annual  and  other  meetings  of  the  Socie- 
ty in  the  form  of  verbal  and  written  Reports.  From  them 
the  present  number  has  been  compiled,  by  reference  to  the 
Specimens  in  the  Cabinets,  to  the  Records  and  to  the  files 
in  which  memoranda  as  well  as  the  reports  had  been  pre- 
served. 

The  collections  have  increased  within  the  last  twelve 
years  to  a  gratifying  extent.  Each  department  of  Natural 
History  has  its  Representatives.  The  Herbarium  is  rich 
in  native  and  foreign  species.  The  Conchological  cases  ex- 
hibit our  own  Mollusca  arranged  side  by  side  with  British 
cospecies.  Other  foreign  species  of  Shells  have  been  secur- 
ed by  private  generosity  or  by  a  system  of  exchanges.  The 
same  may,  in  fine,  be  said  of  all  the  other  departments.  Of 
the  natural  history  of  Essex  County  much  knowledge  has 
been  gained.  The  geological  features  of  a  section  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  City  of  Salem  have  been  rendered 
interesting  by  the  Society's  possession  of  a  natural  curiosity, 
familiarly  known  as  Ship  Rock,  a  massive  boulder,  to 
which  reference  may  be  made  in  this  number.  The  Mi- 
croscope has  likewise  been  employed,  and  some  of  the  ear- 
liest instances  of  Silicious  Earths,  containing  infusorial  re- 
mains, occurred  within  our  immediate  neighborhood. 

We  have  called  this  the  third  and  last  number,  and  we 


110         Retrospect  of  the  Shells  of  Essc.r  County. 

here  take  leave  of  our  Journal  as  an  indication  of  the  doings 
of  the  Essex  Count/  Natural  History  Society.  The  ESSEX 
INSTITUTE  was  formed  in  1848,  by  the  union  of  the  E.  0.  N. 
H.  Society  with  the  Essex  Historical  Society,  and  duly  in- 
corporated by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature.  All  future  publica- 
tions of  our  research  or  discovery  will  be  issued  under  the 
name  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Essex  Institute. 
Salem.,  March,  1852, 


RETROSPECT  OF  SOME  OF  THE  SHELLS  FOUND  IN 
ESSEX  COUNTY. 

In  the  second  number  of  this  Journal  will  be  found  a 
sketch  of  some  of  the  shells  (Mollusca)  which  had  occurred 
to  the  writer.  A  reference  therein  to  the  materials  of  his 
"Familiar  Notice,  &c."  exhibits  the  facilities  of  which  he 
was  possessed.  The  number  was  issued  in  June,  1839.  In 
1841  the  State  Report  of  Dr.  A.  A.  Gould  was  published. 
Subsequently  communications  appeared  in  the  Journal  of 
the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  in  later  volumes  of 
Silliman's  Journal  of  Science  and  in  Proceedings  of  Scien- 
tific Societies,  detailing  new  facts  in  this  branch  of  Zoology. 

The  present  paper  is  intended  as  an  alphabetical  list  of 
those  species  alluded  to,  in  the  second  number,  and  they 
are  now  arranged  according  to  the  nomenclature  of  Dr. 
Gould.  The  names  in  the  '  Familiar  Notice'  will  be  found 
to  be  generally  synonyms. 

Alphabetical  List,  fyc. 

N.  B.  The  figures  on  the  left  hand  of  the  line  refers  to 
the  page  of  the  second  number  of  this  Journal ;  those  on  the 
right  hand  refer  to  Gould's  Report,  except  when  otherwise 
specified. 

49.     Anatifa  laevis,  Linnwis.,  pp.  19.  20.     Wood  cut  on 

p.  11 

60.     Anodon  fluviatilis,  Lea,  117.  f.  80. 
60.     Anodon  implicates,  Say,  118.  f.  78. 


Retrospect  of  the  Shells  of  Essex  County.         Ill 

57.  Astarte  castanca.  Say,  76.  f.  45  and  variety  B.  pro- 

cera  78. 

62.  Anornia  ephippttttn,  Limiaus,  138. 
65.     Ancylus  rivularis,  Sat/,  224.  f.  153. 

67.  Auricula  bidentata,  197.  f.  130. 
48.     Balanus  ebarnens,  15.  f.  6. 

48.  Balanus  geniculatus,  Conrad,  14.  f.  9. 

48.  Balanus  ovularis,  Lamarck,  17.  f.  7. 

68.  Buccinum  obsoletum,  Adams,  308.  f.  210. 
68.  Buccinnm  plicosurn,  Menke,  303.  f.  213. 

68.  Buccinum  trivittatum,  Adams,  309.  f.  211. 

69.  Buccinum  undatum,  Linnceus,  305.     The  shell  and 

animal  are  figured  in  the  Penny  Cyclopaedia,  vol. 

IX.  p.  454. 

75.     Bulla  triticea,  Coutlwuy,  165.  f.  98. 
74.     Cancellaria  Couthouyi,  Jay,  283,  f.  190. 

58.  Cardium  pinnatulum,  Conrad,  90.  f.  57. 
64.     Crepidula  fornicata,  Lam:  158.  f.  17. 
64.     Crepidula  plana,  Say,  159.  f.  16. 

63.  Chiton  fulminatus,  Couth.,  148. 
73.     Cingula  minuta,  265.  f.  171. 

52.  Cfochlodesma  Leana,  Conrad,  49.  ff.  29.  20. 

53.  Cumingia  tellinoides,  Conrad,  56.  f.  36. 
57.  Cyprina  Islaridica,  Lam,..  82. 

70.  Fusus  decemcostatus,  Say,  287.  f.  202. 

70.  Fusus  Islandicus,  Martini,  284. 

71.  Fusus  harpularius.  Couth.,  29.  f.  191. 
51.     Glycimeris  siiiqua,  Lam.,  39. 

68.     Lacuna  vincta,  262.  f.  178* 

72.  Littorina  palliata,  260.  f.  177.* 
72      Littorina  rudis,  257.  f.  175.^ 

72.  Littorina  tenebrosa,  259.  f.  176.* 
64.     Lottia  alveus,  154.  f.  13. 

64.  Lottia  testudinalis,  153.  f.  12. 

51.  Machsera  costata,  34. 

52.  Mactra  solidissima,  Chemnitz,  51. 

73.  Margarita  arctica,  Leach,  255.  f.  173.* 
73.  Margarita  cinerea,  252. 


1 12        Retrospect  of  the  Shells  of  Essex  County. 

74.  Margarita  obscnra,  253.  f.  171.* 

73.  Margarita  undulata,  Sowerby,  254.  f.  172.* 

53.  Mesodesma  arctata,  57.  f.  39. 

75.  Modiola  discrepaus,  Montagu,  129.  f.  83. 
61.     Modiola  modiolus,  Turton,  123. 

61.     Modiola  plicatula,  Lam.,  125.  f.  81. 

61.  Mytilus   edulis,  Linnceus,  121.  f.  82.     This,  though 

a  very  common  shell,  yet  not  devoid  of  beauty, 
especially  in  the  varieties,  of  which  M.  pellucidus 
of  Pennant  and  others,  is  most  distinguished  as 
noticed  in  Number  II.  p.  62,  where  dele  the  name, 
as  a  distinct  species. 

62.  Mytilus  pellucidus,  variety  of  Mytilus  edulis.  122. 
51.     Mya  arenaria,  Linnccus,  40, 

67.  Natica  clausa,  Broderip  and  Sowerby,  238.  f.  167. 

67.  Natica  heros,  Say,  231.  f.  163.     Dr.  Gould   gives 

an  interesting  account  of  its  habits. 

67.  Natica  triseriata.  Say,  233.  f.  165. 

58.  Nucula  limatula,  Say,  98.  f.  62. 

58.  Nucula  minuta,  Turton,  101. 

58.  Nucula  myalis,  Couth.,  99. 

54.  Pandora  trilineata,  Say,  44. 

62.     Pecten  magellanicus,  Lam.,  132. 
47.     Pectinaria  Belgica,  Lam.,  7. 

55.  Petricola  pholadiformis,  Lam.,  63. 

50.  Pholas  crispata,  Linnaus,  27.     Found  living  in  a 

young  state  at  Phillips'  beach,  Lynn,  as  noticed 
on  p.  50,  (No.  II.)  under  the  name  of  Pholas  lamel- 
lata,  Turton,  which  latter,  dele. 

69.     Purpura  Lapillus,  Lam.}  301,  also  variety  imbrica- 
ta,  302. 

74.  Pyramis  striatula,  Couth.,  269.  f.  174. 

74.  Rostellaria  occidentalis,  Beck,  298.  f.  205. 
54.     Sanguinolaria  fusca,  Conrad,  66.  f.  42. 
54.     Sanguinolaria  sordida,  Couth.,  67. 

54.     Saxicava  distorta,  Say,  61.  f.  40. 

75.  ScalariaGrsenlandica,  Chemn>  249.  f.  170.* 

51.  Solen  eusis,  Linn&us,  29. 


Nichols  on  the  Scaphiopiis  Solilariiis.  113 

76,     Solemya  velum,  Say,  35. 

48.  Spirorbis  nautiloides,  Lam,  8. 

75.  Thracia  Conradi,  Couth.,  Boston  Juurnal  of  Natur- 
al History  vol.  II.,  p.  153,  pi.  4.  f.  1,  Gould,  50. 

56.  Tellina  poll ta,  Say.  This  is  probably  an  error.  See 
Gould's  Report,  p.  69,  in  note  on  Tellina  tenera. 

56.     Tellina  tenera,  Say,  68.  f.  44. 

63.     Terebratula  caput-serpentis,  Lam.,  141. 

49.  Teredo  navalis,  Linnmis,  26. 

69.  Trichotropis  borealis,  Sowerby,  300.  f.  207.  This  is 
the  Trichotropris  costellatus,  Couthouy,  as  given 
on  p.  69,  where  dele  2d  and  3d  lines  and  substitute. 

71.     Turritella  erosa,  Couth.,  267. 

59.  Uiiio  complanatus,  Lea,  107.  f.  f.  68.  69.  70.     Said 

to  be  peculiar  to  the  fresh  waters  of  the  Eastern 
slope  of  the  Alleghany  mountains. 

60.  Unto  nasutus,  Say,  109.  f.  71. 
60.     Unio  radiatus,  Barnes,  110.  f.  73. 
58.     Venus  gemma,   Totten,  88.  f.  51. 

58.     Venus  mercenaria,  Linn&us,  85.  f.  67. 

66.  Velutina  laevigata,  241.  f.  159.  This  in  the  Veluti- 
na  rupicola  Conrad,  as  quoted  on  p.  66.  where 
dele  the  query  about  Oxynoe  glabra. 


OCCURRENCE  OF  SCAPHIOPUS  SOLITARIUS,  IN  ESSEX  COUNTY :  WITH  SOME 
NOTICES  OP  ITS  HISTORY,  HABITS,  &c.  BY  ANDREW  NICHOLS,  M.  M.  S.  S-,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Society.  Read  June  17,  1843. 

In  a  shallow  basin  surrounded  by  ledges  of  greenstone 
rock,  which  retains  water  during  the  winter  and  spring, 
and  is  occasionally  rilled  in  summer  by  great  rains  to  the 
depth  of  one  to  four  feet,  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  in  Danvers, 
over  which  the  old  Essex  Turnpike  crosses,  and  near  the 
intersection  of  this  road  by  the  Newburyport  Turnpike,  an 
interesting  colony  of  this  rare  reptile,  hitherto  unobserved 
north  of  South  Carolina,  has  been  lately  discovered.  Some- 


114  Nichols  on  Scaphiopus  Solilanus. 

where-about  the  years  1S10;  1S11  or  1812,  subsequent  to  a 
great  rain  in  summer,  several  frogs  of  this  curious  species 
were  noticed  by  John  Swinerton,  Esq.,  now  deceased,  who 
resided  very  near  this  spot  for  sixty  successive  years,  and 
had  ample  opportunity  to  observe  them.  Their  numbers, 
in  this,  their  first  appearance,  was  as  great  as  at  any  time 
since;  determined  by  the  testimony  of  several  witnesses. 
At  this  time,  during  one  or  two  days  and  nights,  they  were 
very  noisy  and  actively  engaged  in  fulfilling  the  great  fiat 
of  creation;  and  soon  afterwards  they  disappeared.  Nothing 
more  was  seen  of  them  for  several  years.  Their  voices  or 
note  so  nearly  resembled  that  of  young  crows,  that  it  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  a  Mr.  Elijah  Pope,  a  farmer,  who 
lived  half  a  mile  distant ;  and,  accompanied  by  his  son, 
sallied  forth,  gun  in  hand,  to  kill  what  he  so  naturally  im- 
agined were  mischievous  birds  in  his  corn-field.  From 
this  little  anecdote  I  am  enabled  to  determine  their  first  ob- 
served appearance  with  some  degree  of  certainty  ;  thus  de- 
fining the  time  as  about  the  first  of  September,  when  corn 
is  in  a  state  to  be  fed  upon  by  the  crow :  while,  again,  the 
years  mentioned  above,  agree  with  a  statement  of  the  son, 
Mr.  N.  Pope,  who  from  his  own  present  age,  concludes  that 
1812  or  a  year  or  two  earlier,  was  the  time  of  their  first 
visit. 

So  far  as  recollection  serves,  nothing  more  was  seen  of 
them,  until  July,  1825,  on  a  day  memorable  for  the  passage 
of  LA  FAYETTE  over  the  Newburyport  Turnpike  close  by, 
on  his  return  to  Boston  from  his  eastern  tour;  at  which  time 
their  voices  added  to  the  welcome  greetings  of  a  nation's 
guest !  Since  this  last  date,  thus  rendered  conspicuous  as 
well  as  certain,  whenever  the  basin  has  been  filled  in  warm 
weather,  these  reptiles  invariably  make  their  appearance. 
This  has  occurred,  however,  only  three  times,  viz. :  August 
12th,  1834:  again  in  the  summer  of  a  year  whose  date  is 
forgotten;  and  on  June  16th,  1842.  The  forenoon  of  this 
day,  last  mentioned,  was  dark  and  rainy,  as  the  day  and 
night  previous  had  been.  Their  croaking  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  an  acquaintance  of  miiiCj  and  information  of  their 


Nichols  on  Scaphiopus  Solitarius.  115 

appearance,  with  a  pair  of  the  frogs,  were  forwarded  tome 
by  Mr.  Amos  Swinerton.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day, 
I  repaired  to  the  spot,  accompanied  by  several  members  of 
the  Essex  County  Natural  History  Society ;  but  the  sun  had 
appeared  meanwhile, — their  voices  were  hushed,  and  none 
were  even  to  be  seen.  In  examining  the  water,  however, 
we  found  it  filled  with  spawn — and  two  females  were 
drawn  from  the  bottom  of  the  pool.  In  the  evening  follow- 
ing they  came  out  again  ;  resumed  their  croaking  and  ama- 
tory habits.  Several  more  specimens  were  captured  and 
kindly  presented  to  us,  by  Mr.  Nathl.  Pope,  whose  name 
has  been  already  mentioned.  The  old  frogs  were  not  seen 
again.  In  five  days  after,  I  found  the  spawn  had  become 
tadpoles,  of  which  about  a  hundred  I  took  home — kept 
them  in  glass  globes, — fed  them  on  fish  and  flesh — scarcely 
one  died.  They  remained  longer  and  grew  larger  in  the 
tadpole  state  than  did  those  left  in  their  native  pool,  which 
latter  became  perfect  animals  in  less  than  four  weeks.  On 
the  other  hand,  those  kept  in  water,  without  any  opportu- 
nity to  crawl  on  land,  or  on  any  substitute  for  it,  such  as  a 
floating  chip,  or  some  foothold  firmer  than  water,  were 
slower  in  their  development.  It  seems  then,  that  the  de- 
velopment and  successive  changes  of  the  organs,  conform 
to  circumstances.  So  long  as  water  is  wholly  their  resi- 
dence, their  caudal  appendage  is  necessary  and  according- 
ly used,  retaining  its  proportionate  size  and  strength,  and 
the  growth  of  the  legs  is  in  the  same  proportion.  If  the  wa- 
ter be  gradually  withdrawn,  and  mud,  moist  earth  and  then 
dry,  gradually  substituted,  they  will  much  sooner  undergo 
the  change  from  the  embryotic  to  the  infantile  condition  of 
existence.  Thus,  at  the  end  of  four  weeks,  all  the  water 
in  which  the  spawn  was  deposited  had  evaporated  ;  in  some 
of  the  lowest  spots  of  the  basin  a  little  mud  of  the  consist- 
ence of  clay-mortar  alone  remaining.  Here  the  young  frogs 
were  merrily  hopping  about,  enjoying  life  on  dry  land, 
while  those  in  confinement  in  water,  were  still  increasing 
in  size,  and  yet  in  an  embryo  condition.  This  very  short 
natural  period  of  the  tadpole  state  admirably  fits  them  for 


116  Nichols  on    Scaphiopus  Solitariits. 

such  breeding  places  as  the  one  in  which  the  subjects  of 
this  paper  were  found;  a  locality  where  water  can  remain 
for  a  short  time  only,  and  this  in  the  most  wet  seasons. 

I  also  kept  a  few  of  the  old  frogs,  three  in  number,  two 
females  and  a  male,  in  a  barrel,  a  third  part  filled  with 
moist  peat  muck,  containing  some  earth  worms*  and  other 
small  creatures.  Occasionally  I  threw  in  a  few  garden 
snails,!  small  pieces  of  meat,  fish  or  insects.  Whether  they 
ate  of  these  provisions  is  uncertain.  Occasionally  I  found 
one  or  two  of  them  out  of  the  mud,  in  which  they  usually 
buried  themselves,  reserving  only  a  small  breathing  hole, 
opening  above  their  heads.  I  frequently  shook  them  out 
for  the  purpose  of  exhibiting  them ;  but  they  would  soon 
bury  themselves  again,  by  the  dexterous  use  of  their  hind 
feet.  I  kept  them  till  the  last  part  of  November,  when  care- 
lessly permitting  the  earth  to  become  frozen, they  were  killed. 

Holbrook,  in  his  N.  A.  Herpetology,  vol.  L,  pp.  85-7, 
says  that  he  has  found  these  reptiles  in  three  states  only, 
viz :  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  and  Tennessee — that  they 
go  into  the  water  only  in  the  breeding  season,  which  he  ob- 
serves is  in  the  spring  ;  and  that  they  live  in  holes  in  the 
ground  of  about  six  inches  in  depth,  excavated  by  them- 
selves— never  coming  out  of  these,  except  during  the  night 
or  after  heavy  rains.  This  explains  the  mystery  of  their 
sudden  appearance  and  disappearance,  as  above  mentioned. 
It  would  also  seem  that  they  are  Southern  reptiles  ;— chilled 
by  our  northern  climate,  they  want  a  more  genial  season 
to  celebrate  their  nuptials  ;  and  thus  without  a  suitable  pool 
to  receive  the  spawn,  year  after  year  in  this  instance  trans- 
pired, until  a  summer  freshet  filled  their  native  habitat  suf- 
ficiently. 

I  have  some  reasons  to  conjecture  that  other  colonies  of 
these  frogs  exist  in  New  England.  An  intelligent  farmer 
ofTopsfield,  (Mass.),  to  whom  I  showed  my  specimens, 
and  related  the  foregoing  history,  told  me  he  had  several 
times  heard  a  similar  croaking  in  a  temporary  pond  of  wa- 
ter near  his  dwelling,  but  he  never  went  to  see  from  whence 

*Lumbricns  terrestris,  L.     tLimax  agrestris  ?  L. 


The  Polylrichaccfc  of  Essex  County.  117 

the  noise  proceeded.  Something  of  the  same  kind  has 
been  noticed  also  in  Framingham,  in  this  State,  by  a  stu- 
dent of  medicine,  who  relates  that  he  and  a  friend  of  his 
were  kept  awake  on  the  identical  night,  June  16th,  1842, 
by  the  noise  of  frogs  or  something  of  the  kind  in  a  ditch  of 
water  near  his  lodging  ;  that  they  went  out  to  discover  what 
they  were,  but  on  drawing  near  the  place,  the  noise  or  cry, 
which  resembled  that  of  young  crows,  suddenly  ceased,  and 
nothing  was  to  be  seen. 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  POLYTRICHACE^E ;  with  a  notice  of  some  species  occurring  in 
Essex  County,  Massachusetts. 

This  family  of  the  mosses,  embraces  several  distinct 
genera,  which  formerly  were  all  comprised  under  one  genus, 
and  known  as  Polytrichum.  Growing  in  situations  sub- 
jected to  alternate  dryness  and  moisture,  the  polytrichnms 
are  found  inhabiting  wide-apart  regions  of  the  globe. 
Assuming  a  gregarious  habit  and  in  many  instances  corn- 
posing  a  close  turf  of  perennial  continuance,  they  are  well 
adapted  to  clothe  the  surface  of  the  earth,  in  high  northern 
latitudes.  Particular  species  are  decidedly  montane  and 
even  alpine,  while  again  on  the  other  hand  several  grow  in 
rocky  situations,  near  the  sea  coast. 

The  polytrichums  are  mosses  of  an  upright  form,  bearing 
on  the  summits  of  the  stems  and  embosomed  in  the  foliage, 
two  kinds  of  reproductive  organs;  the  one  consisting  of  a 
series  of  stiff  and  colored  bracts  of  a  stellulate  outline, 
enclosing  the  antheridia  and  pistillidia,  from  the  latter  of 
which,  the  future  seed-vessel  (capsule)  is  gradually  pro- 
duced. Sometimes  however  the  stellulate  appearance 
remains,  crowning  the  summit,  and  on  the  next  annual 
growth  furnishing  a  continuation  of  the  stem  from  its 
midst,  which  is  also  provided  with  the  regular  foliages,  and 
the  individual  plant  is  thus  for  a  time  in  a  sterile  condition. 
The  office,  which  the  antheridium  and  pistillidium  perform 
2 


118  The  Polytrichacea  of  Essex  County. 

is  supposed  to  be  analagons  to  that  of  the  stamen  and  pistil 
in  the  higher  plants.  The  pistillidium  elongates  and  rises 
to  a  considerable  height,  constituting  the  pedicel;  and  en- 
larges at  its  apex  into  the  capsule,  which  is  surmounted  by 
a  caplike  organ,  called  the  calyptra.  On  the  ripening  of 
the  capsule  the  calyptra  falls  off,  but  when  studied  with 
other  structural  differences,  it  forms  a  good  criterion  to 
divide  the  many  species  into  the  several  genera,  Thus,  in 
Polytrichum  proper,  the  calyptra  is  densely  hairy,  while 
the  capsule,  which  it  invests,  becomes,  when  mature,  of  a 
four  or  six  sided  figure.  The  name  Polytrichum  is  derived 
from  an  allusion  to  the  character  of  the  calyptra,  polus  being 
the  Greek  for  many  and  thrix  Gr.  for  hair,  so  that  it  may 
be  familiarly  termed,  the  haircop  or  the  many  haired  moss. 

In  Pogonatum,  the  calyptra  is  hoodshaped  and  also  dense- 
ly hairy,  while  the  mature  capsule  is  cylindrical,  so  that 
these  forms  distinguish  it.  From  pogon  Gr.  beard  we  derive 
Pogonatum  the  bearded  hood  moss,  or  bearded  cap  moss. 

In  Atrichum,  the  calyptra  is  smooth,  but  its  tip  is  spinu- 
lose,  its  form  is  hood  shaped,  and  the  capsule  is  elongated- 
cylindraceous  and  slightly  curved.  Hence  the  smooth  ca- 
lyptra is  signified  in  the  generic  name,  a,  (privitive)  without 
and  thrix  Gr.  hair,  the  hairless  cap  or  smooth  cap  moss. 

Further  distinctions  need  not  be  pointed  out ;  these  general 
and  more  obvious  characteristics  being  deemed  sufficient 
to  our  present  purpose.  We  come  to  an  enumeration  of  the 
species  according  to  our  plan. 

1.  POLYTRICHUM  COMMUNE.  Linnesus  Species  Plantarum, 
p.  1573.  Hooker  and  Taylor's  Muscologia  Britannica,  2d 
Ed.,  p.  46,  table  X.  Smith's  Linnaeus  Flora  Lapponica, 
pp.  322.  326.  Sullivant  in  Gray's  Botany  of  the  Northern 
United  States,  &c.  &c. 

This  species  is  to  be  found  in  moist  places,  and  as  its 
name  implies  is  a  common  plant.  It  varies  considerably  in 
sizes.  Its  capsule  is  four  sided  and  acute-angled,  which 
the  ferruginous  colored  hairy  calyptra  completely  "covers, 
extending  below  the  base  :  its  operculum  (the  lid  covering 
the  orifice  of  the  capsule)  is  short*  The  stem}  which  rises 


The  PolytrichncccB  of  Essex  County.  119 

from  the  earth,  is  simple  and  clothed  with  linear-lanceolate 
shaped  leaves,  which  are  bent  backwards  when  in  a  fresh 
state,  and  are  likewise  serrate  on  their  margins  and  backs. 
We  are  informed  by  Linnaeus  that  this  moss  enters  largely 
into  the  comforts  of  the  inhabitants  of  Lapland,  who  use  it 
for  bedding  and  similar  purposes.  "In  the  north  of  Eng- 
land, mattresses  superior  to  those  of  straw  are  sometimes 
made  with  it,  and  Burnett  also  adds,  after  quoting  Johnston, 
for  the  last  statement,  that  it  "  was  formed  for  promoting 
the  growth  of  the  hair,  and  that  in  Germany  it  is  esteemed 
as  a  sudorific.'  "  Outlines,  vol.  I,  pp.  287-8.  Nor  less  in- 
teresting is  its  geographical  distribution,  having  been  found 
throughout  Europe,  in  temperate  and  frigid  parts  of  Asia, 
in  Kamschatka,  North  America,  Newfoundland,  Peru,  the 
Falkland  Islands  and  Madagascar. 

2.  POLYTRICHIJM   GRAciLE   (Mcnzics.  Trans.  Linn.   Soc. 
IV.  &c.)  Bridel.,  Brylogia  Universall.  154.  Sulliv.in  Gr.l.c. 

Usually  of  smaller  size  than  the  last,  with  a  four  to  six- 
sided  and  obtuse-angled  capsule,  a  longbeakcd  lid;  the 
hairy  calyptra  shorter  than  the  capsule. 

Detected  in  boggy  places  at  Ipswich,  by  the  late  WILLIAM 
OAKES. 

3.  POLYTRICHUM  juNirERiNUM.     Hedwig.  Species  Musco- 
rum,  &c.     Brid.  Bry.  II.  136.     H.  &  T.  Muse.  Brit.  tab. 
X.  Sulliv.  in  Gr.  1.  c. 

Stem  either  simple  or  divided,leaves  terminating  in  a  some- 
what stiff  point ;  the  margins  fold  inwards  and  are  smooth  on 
their  edges ;  a  peculiarity  which  distinguishes  the  species. 
It  is  also  quite  a  common  plant. 

4.  POLYTRICHUM  PILIFERUM.    (Schreber)  H.  &  T.  Muse. 
Brit.  tab.  X.     Brid.  Bry.  II.  142.     Sulliv.  in  Gr.  1.  c. 

This  common  and  striking  little  moss  occurs  on  sunny 
aspects  among  rocks,  and  can  be  readily  known  by  its  long 
white  awns  at  the  tips  of  the  leaves,  which  when  appressed 
to  the  stem  by  dryness,  give  the  plants  a  hoary  look.  Its 
capsule  is  oblong,  four-sided,  its  lid  is  conical,  beaked,  and 
its  foliage  crowded  at  the  top  of  the  stem. 

5.  POGONATUM  BREVICAULE.     Brid.  Bry.  II.  114.     Polytri- 


120  The  Danvers  Bowlder. 

chum  Pmnsylvanicum.     Hedvv.  Sp.    Muse.   t.  24.     Sulliv. 
in  Gr.  1.  c. 

One  of  the  smallest  of  the  polytrichacese,  and  not  unfa- 
miliar to  any  one,  who  has  been  attracted  by  the  habits  of 
some  of  the  mosses,  that  delight  to  grow  on  moist  slopes  of 
sandy  or  clayey  soils.  Its  stems  rise  from  a  flat  tissue  of 
green,  closely  compacted  filaments.  On  their  summits  are 
a  few  crowded  and  appressed,  somewhat  denticulate  leaves. 
It  is  specified  incorrectly,  as  a  new  species  in  a  previous 
number  of  this  Journal,  on  page  92,  line  20,  where  it  may 
be  erased  and  the  true  name  substituted. 


6.  ATRICHUM  ANGUSTATUM  (BEAUVAIS.)  Sulliv.  inGr.  1.  c. 
Catharinea  angustata.  Brid.  Bry.  II.  105.  Polytrichwn 
angustatum.  Hooker;  Muse.  Exot.  t.  50. 

The  leaves  of  this  pretty  moss  are  thin,  delicate  and  in- 
clined to  curl  inwards  at  their  tips,  suggesting  the  specific 
name  on  the  92d  page  of  No.  II.  of  this  Journal  where,  erase 
the  4th  line.  The  description  there  found,  refers  to  the 
name  and  synonyms  at  the  head  of  this  paragraph,  and  the 
plant  in  question  has  also,  no  particular  affinity  with  "  Po- 
lytrichum  lacvigatum  of  Wahlenburg,"  which  is  exclusicely 
a  species  of  high  northern  latitudes. 

The  Atrichum  angustatum  may  be  seen  in  thin,  grassy, 
and  moist  places  under  trees,  or  in  spots  wherever  shade 
and  moisture  prevail. 


THE  DANVERS  BOWLDER,  or  Ship  Rock. 

The  phenomena  of  bowlders  have  been  considered  the 
most  instructive  index  we  possess  of  a  powerful  diluvial 
agency.  They  are  found  in  great  numbers  throughout  the 
whole  extent  of  Massachusetts,  are  usually  somewhat 
rounded  in  outline,  and  are  rendered  quite  smooth  by  attri- 
tion or  by  atmospherical  agency. 


Russell  on  some  Polylhalamia.  121 

SHIP  ROCK  stands  upon  the  summit  of  a  precipitous  cliff, 
about  half  a  mile  distant  from  Tapley's  Brook,  and  directly 
I'.orth  of  the  dwelling  house  of  Mr.  David  Newhall,  on  the 
road  to  Lynnfield.  It  is  of  granite,  and  measures  forty-five 
feet  in  length,  twenty-two  in  height  and  twenty-five  in 
width.  Its  shape  is  tolerably  regular,  resembling  in  some 
respec(s  an  inverted  vessel,  whence  its  name,  but  not  ad- 
mitting of  a  very  exact  measurement.  Supposing  its  mean 
circumference  to  be  one  hundred  feet,  its  diameter  would 
be  about  thirty  feet,  and  if  it  were  spherical,  its  weight 
would  be  about  eleven  hundred  tons.  The  area  surrounding 
the  Rock  is  also  covered  with  loose  masses  of  stone,  many 
of  which  are  estimated  to  weigh  from  fifty  to  seventy-five 
tons. 


MINUTE    POLYTIIALAMOUS   SHELLS  OCCURRING  ON  THE  COAST  OF  MAINE,  NEW 
ENGLAND.    By  Jous  LEWIS  RUSSELL,  Member  of  the  Society,  &c.    Read  June  29, 1842. 

The  advantages  which  the  microscope  affords  the  natur- 
alist, seem  likely  to  be  appreciated  in  these  times  of  general 
inquiry.  Worlds  of  beauty — rare  gems  of  exquisite  per- 
fection, and  objects  of  consummate  skill,  with  unsurpassing 
instances  of  design,  are  daily  unfolding  themselves  to  the 
curious  eye.  The  representatives  of  animated  creation  in 
the  lower  forms  of  animal  and  vegetable  life,  so  minute  as 
to  escape  the  common  observation  are  revealed  by  this 
instrument  in  modes  well  calculated  to  excite  surprise, 
admiration  and  instruction. 

The  sands  on  the  calcareous  coasts  of  England,  present  a 
variety  of  the  most  beautiful  forms  of  minute  creatures 
belonging  to  the  order  of  FORAMINIFERA,  established  by 
D'Orbigny.  They  serve  a  similar  purpose  as  the  silicious 
coverings  of  the  infusoria,  in  making  up  by  their  vast  con- 
geries, entire  strata  and  large  proportions  of  soil  in  different 
parts  of  the  world.  "  The  sea  downs  of  some  and  probably 
of  most  coasts  are  still  in  course  of  formation  by  living 
Bryozoa,  which  though  very  small,  resembling  grains  of 


122     Notices  of  several  Fishes  of  Rare  Occurrence. 

sand,  are  yet  for  the  most  part  larger  than  chalk  animal- 
cules, and  a  large  proportion  of  the  sand  of  the  Libyan 
Desert  has  been  proved  to  consist  of  such  grains."  Wea- 
ver's Views  otEhrenbergs  discovery,  in  PhilosophicalJour- 
nal  of  London  and  Edinburgh,  vol.  18.  p.  386. 

I  have  seen  no  notice  of  these  minute  shells  in  this 
country  excepting  an  accidental  one  by  Dr.  A.  A.  Gould, 
in  his  Report  on  the  Invertebrate  animals  of  Massachusetts, 
in  the  following  words,  viz  :  "Of  the  very  curious  and 
minute  Nautilacess,  so  many  of  which  have  been  found 
about  the  British  islands,  there  are  doubtless  many  among 
the  sands  of  our  shores ;  but  none  have  as  yet  been  detect- 
ed." p.  317. 

During  the  month  of  August,  1841,  1  had  the  satisfaction 
of  finding  several  of  these  "curious  and  minute"  shells, 
mixed  with  sand,  adhering  to  a  species  of  marine  Conferva 
on  the  beach  of  Kennebunk,  Me.  Two  distinct  species  of 
these  were  nautiloid  in  their  structure,  and  resembled  No- 
NIONINA  as  figured  by  Ehrenberg  in  the  Abhandlingen  der 
Koniglichen  Akademie  der  Wissenschaften  zu  Berlin,  aus 
dan  Jahre,  1839  :  described  as  found  living  in  the  North 
Sea.  Another  species  appeared  to  belong  to  ROTALIA,  and 
still  another  species  to  UUINQUELOCULINA.  They  are  all  very 
minute,  and  can  only  be  distinguished  by  a  magnifying 
glass,  perceptible  to  the  naked  eye  as  mere  points  or  specks, 
when  laid  on  some  colored  substance.  The  two  nautiloid 
species  are  very  beautiful  as  seen  highly  magnified,  of  a 
pearly  lustre,  and  partially  translucent. 

To  the  Conchologist,  the  microscope  willopen'perhaps.  a 
new  field  of  interesting  observation,  and  in  these  and  simi- 
lar "  gems  of  the  ocean"  hidden  wonders  surpassing  in 
elegance  the  richest  treasures  of  the  cabinet  may  be  detected. 


NOTICE  OF  SEVERAL  FISHES  OF  RARE  OCCURRENCE.    By  HENRY  WHEATLAXD. 

MONOCANTHUS  AURANTiACUs,   MITCHELL.    The  Orange  File 
Fish.      See  Dekay's  Rep.  on  Fishes  of  N.  Y.  p.  333,  pi. 


Notices  of  several  Fishes  of  Rare  Occurrence.       123 

LV1I.  fig.  186.     Storer's  Synopsis,  p.  244.     Proceed.  Host. 
Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  II.  p.  72. 

A  specimen  now  in  the  Society's  collection  was  captured 
at  the  Forest  River  Lead  Works  in  Salem,  Aug.  9,  1845. 
It  was  observed  in  the  act  of  feeding  upon  the  barnacles 
(Balanus  ovularis)  which  grew  upon  the  wood  work  of  the 
pier,  and  was  noticed  for  some  time  before  it  was  secured. 
It  is  a  Southern  species,  and  therefore  a  stranger  to  us.  Its 
size  is  appended  as  follows,  viz :  Length  21  inches,  depth 
across  from  base  of  the  dorsal  spine  8  1-2  inches.  This 
dorsal  spine  is  single,  measuring  two  inches  in  length,  ser- 
rated on  the  posterior  edge,  and  forms  a  sort  of  armature. 

LEPTOCEPHALUS  GRACILIS.  STOKER  in  Proceed.  Bost.  Soc, 
Nat.  Hist,  vol.  II.  p.  70.  Storer's  Synopsis,  p.  272. 

Through  the  kindness  of  George  H.  Devereux,  the  speci- 
men of  this  new  and  exceedingly  rare  little  fish,  was  for- 
warded to  the  Society  in  the  year  1845.  It  was  taken  at 
Cherryfield,  Maine,  from  a  basin  formed  in  a  timber  raft ; 
and  its  occurrence  introduced  a  new  genus  to  the  Ichthyo- 
logy of  this  continent.  Its  appearance  is  like  that  of  a 
narrow  piece  of  tape,  ending  in  a  somewhat  acute  point  at 
the  snout,  and  diminishing  gradually  in  a  similar  way,  to 
the  end  of  the  tail,  which  is  however  rather  more  blunt.  It 
is  also  so  thin  that  when  alive  it  must  have  been  transpa- 
rent. In  Pennant's  British  zoology,  vol.  III.  p.  212,  pi.  28, 
mention  is  made  of  a  species  still  rare  in  England,  under 
the  title  of  Leptocephalus  Morrisii.  The  same  is  described 
and  figured  in  London's  Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  6.  p.  531 ; 
and  reference  is  made  to  four  other  specimens  in  the  fifth 
vol.  pp.  313.  742.,  occurring  in  Great  Britain.  The  Cher- 
ryfield specimen  is  a  distinct  species,  as  shown  by  Dr. 
Storer  in  his  observations,  as  quoted  at  the  head  of  this 
paragraph. 

THYNNUS  VULGARIS.  Cuv.  AND  VALENC.  Common  Tu- 
ny. See  Yarrell's  British  Fishes,  vol.  I.  p.  134,  and  fig. 
Storer's  Report  of  the  fishes  of  Massachusetts,  p.  47,  &c. 


121      Notices  of  several  Fishes  of  Rare  Occurrence. 

A  specimen  of  this  rare  fish  was  found  stranded  on  the 
flats  of  the  North  River,  Salem,  between  the  Railroad  and 
Beverly  bridges,  Aug.  23,  1846.  It  is  commonly  known  to 
us  as  the  Horse  Mackerel  or  Albicore ;  but  seldom  seen  in 
our  waters  and  never  noticed  in  shoals  as  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean Sea. 

The  size  of  the  specimen  by  measurement  was  found  to 
be  nine  feet  and  six  inches  in  length,  and  in  girth  seven  feet, 
measured  near  the  pectoral  fins;  which  it  is  to  be  observed, 
exceeds  the  usual  size  as  judging  from  those  caught  in  the 
Mediterranean  where  they  seldom  exceed  four  feet  in  length, 
and  frequently  are  not  more  than  three  feet  long. 

PRIONOTUS  Spp.     Guv.  AND  VALENC. 

Two  specimens  were  presented  to  the  cabinet  during  the 
summer  of  1847,  caught  in  Salem  Harbor;  supposed  to  be 
Prionotus  lineatus  and  Prion.  pileatus.  See  Storer  in  Pro- 
ceed. Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  p.  77.  Storer's  Synopsis,  pp. 
50  and  270. 

CARANX  DEFENSOR.  Southern  Caranx.  Dekay,  Report, 
Fishes  of  N.  Y.  p.  120.  pi,  xxiv.  fig.  72. 

This  beautiful  fish  was  found  on  the  Lynn  beaches, 
during  the  summer  of  1S47,  by  Mr.  Joseph  True,  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  the  specimen.  It  is  fourteen  inches  in 
length. 

TETRAODON  TURGIDUS.  MITCHELL.  Swell  Fish  or  Puffer. 
See  Storer's  Report,  p.  169.  Storer's  Synopsis,  p.  241. 

A  specimen  of  this  curious  fish  was  caught  in  Salem  Har- 
bor in  the  summer  of  1848.  Though  very  common  south 
of  Cape  Cod,  yet  it  is  not  usually  seen  in  Massachusetts 
Bay. 

SEBASTES  NORVEGICUS.  Cuv.  Norway  Haddock.  Also 
known  as  the  "  Rose  Fish"  t£  Hemdurgan"  and 
"  Snapper."  See  Storer's  Report,  p.  26.— Synopsis  p.  60. 
A  specimen  of  this  uncommon  species  was  caught  offMise- 


Rare  P hints  of  the    Vicinity,  125 

ry  Island,  in  Salem  Harbor,  August,  1848,  and  presented 
to  the  Society. 

ECHENEIS    ALBICAUDA.      MITCHELL.       White     Tailed  Re- 
mora.     See  Storer's  Report,  p.  153.     Synopsis  p.  231. 

A  specimen  was   caught  in  Collins'  Cove,  Salem,   Au- 
gust,   1850,  by  Mr.  Jacob  Striley.     Cabinet  of  the  Society. 


FURTHER    NOTICE    OF    RARE    PLANTS.      BY    JOHN    LEWIS    RPSSKT.L. 

ZOSTER  A  MARINA.  L.  Eel  Grass.  Sea  wrack.  This 
plant  may  be  readily  found  in  blossom  in  the  month  of  June ; 
at  which  season  of  the  year,  I  have  repeatedly  gathered  it 
near  the  tide  mills  in  Salem,  and  likewise  in  other  places 
on  our  shores. 

VACCINUM  VITIS  ID^EA,  L.  This  beautiful  representative 
of  a  more  Northern  flora  was  detected  by  the  late  William 
Cakes,  in  a  pasture  in  Danvers,  in  the  year  1820.  The 
spot  has  been  favorably  regarded  ever  since,  as  interesting 
to  the  botanist,  and  according  to  the  observations  of  Samuel 
P.  Fowler,  the  plant  has  gradually  increased  from  year  to 
year.  Mr.  F.  has  had  the  satisfaction  of  detecting  another 
locality  about  two  miles  distant,  where  a  variety  of  the 
plant  with  narrower  leaves  occurs.  It  is  likewise  suscepti- 
ble of  cultivation,  as  Mr.  F.  has  proved. 

CLADONIA  UNCIALIS,  variety  e,  ^reticulata. 
In  great  perfection  of  size  and  fructification  at  Duxbury, 
Plymouth  County,  where  I  have  gathered  it  in  abundance, 
and  I  have  noticed  it  also  on  Monadnoc  in  a  sterile  state. 
3 


1.26  Shells  found  in  Essex  County. 

It  now  constitutes  a  species  under  the  name  of  CLADONIA 
BOREGI.  Tuckerman,  for  reasons,  which  he  specifies  in  his 
Synopsis  of  the  Lichenes  of  Northern  United  States,  &c. 

CLAUOMIA  GRACILTS.      Variety  elongata,  FRIES.     In  a  fine 
fruited  condition  on  a  high  rocky  hill  in  Danvers. 


CONSPECTUS    OF   SHELLS   FOUND    IN   ESSEX    COUNTY,    &c. 

The  attention,  which  the  study  of  the  lower  tribes  of 
marine  and  of  molluscous  animals  have  received  within 
the  last  twelve  years,  since  the  issue  of  the  second  number, 
induces  the  attempt  to  furnish  a  list  of  the  localities  of  those 
usually  called  shells,  as  well  as  the  occurrence  of  other 
species  of  the  same,  not  specified  in  the  "  Familiar  Notice." 
In  preparing  the  present  paper,  constant  reference  has  been 
made  to  Dr.  Gould's  Report  on  *he  Invertebrata  of  Massa- 
chusetts, published  in  1841,  to  the  several  volumes  of  the 
Boston  Journal  of  Natural  History,  to  the  Proceedings  of 
the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  and  likewise  to  the 
"  Shells  of  New  England,"  by  Win.  Stimpson,  1851. 

The  waters  of  the  bay  which  wash  the  shores  of  our 
County  have  been  dredged,  the  maws  of  fishes  caught  in 
deep  water  have  been  examined,  and  the  various  seaweeds 
driven  on  the  beaches  by  winds  have  been  carefully  search- 
ed. The  muddy  bottoms  of  estuaries  where  fresh  and  salt 
waters  combine,  have  been  inspected,  and  our  rocky  hillsides 
and  extensive  ponds  have  received  attention,  by  members 
of  our  Society  and  by  others.  The  names  of  Dr.  William 
Prescott,  formerly  of  Lynn,  of  Dr.  Henry  Wheatland,  of 
Salem,  of  Mr.  Joseph  True  of  Salem,  of  Messrs.  Tufts  and 
Haskell  of  Lynn,  of  Mr.  William  Stimpson  of  Cambridge, 
may  be  adduced. 


S/iclls  found  In  Essex  County.  127 

As  a  condensed  view  of  the  present  knowledge  of  this 
portion  of  the  Zoology  of  Essex  County,  the  list  may  be  of 
value,  while  it  may  serve  at  the  same  time  to  awaken  new 
zeal  in  further  scrutiny. 

The  following  abbreviations  have  been  employed  to  de- 
note authorities. 

Gould's  Report,  &c.,  G. 

Boston  Journal,  &c.,  Bost.  Jourri. 

Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Society,  &c..         Bost.  Proc, 

Stimpson's  Shells  of  New  England,  St.  Sh. 

Dr.  Henry  Wheatland,  W. 

Dr.  Wm.  Prescott,  P. 

Joseph  True,  Tr. 

S.  Tufts,  jr.,  T. 

Tufts  £  Haskell,  T.  &  H. 

Wm.  Stimpson,  St. 

J.  P.  Cothouy,  Couth. 

Prof.  Adams,  A. 

Lamarck,  Lam. 

Linnaeus,  L. 


Adeorbis  costulata.     St.     Bost.  Proc.  iv.   p.   14.     In  deep 
water  off  Cape  Ann. 

Alasmadonta  marginata.  G.     Shawshin  River,  Andover. 
Amicula  vestita.  St.  Sh.       Chiton   Emersonii.    Couth.  G. 
Salem  Harbor.  W. 

Anatifa  vitrea.  Lam.     On  fuci  thrown  up  on  Lynn  beaches, 
after  storms  in  summer.  Tr. 


Ancylus  fuscus.     A.     Andover.     G. 

Anodon  irnplicata.     G.     Ponds,  Lynn.  P.     Brown's  Pond, 
Danvers,  W.     These  and  the  other  Naiades  of  New  Eng- 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County. 

land  seem  to  have  been  under  revision  by  Agassiz  :    See 
Stimpsorfs  Shells  of  N.  E.,  at  pp.  13.    15. 
Ariomia  ephippium.     L.     About  Orne's  Point,  W. 

Variety  aculeata.     Lynn.     P.   -Tr. 

Variety  squamula.     Lynn      Tr. 

Astarte  castanea.     G.     Orne's  Point,  W. 
Astarte  quadrans.     G.     Lynn,  P.     Salem  Harbor,  W. 
Astarte  sulcata.  G.     Orne's  Point,    W.     Marblehead  Har- 
bor at  low  water.     St.  Sh.  IS.     Lynn,  Tr. 

Buccinum  plicosum,    G.     Common  in  the  tide-mill  ponds, 

Salem,  Tr. 
Buccinum  undatum,    L.     Salem  harbor.  T.  St.  Sh.  46. 

Bulimus  lubricus,  G.   Salem,  Tr. 

Bulk  punctostriata,   St.    Bost.  Proc.  iv.  17.   Off  Cape  Ann. 
Bulla  triticea,  G.     Off  Kahant.  T.  &  H.     St.  Sh.  50.     Sa- 
lem, Tr. 

Cemoria  Noachina,  G.  Stomachs  of  fishes.  Salem  har- 
bor, W.  Lynn  beaches,  Tr. 

Chiton  albus,  G.  Stomachs  of  fishes.  Also  cast  ashore 
upon  the  Lynn  beaches,  Tr. 

Chiton  marginatns,  G.  "Found  living,  a  few  years  since, 
by  DR.  CHARLES  PICKERING,  at  Phillips  beach," — Gould  : 
and  "  no  other  specimen  has  been  found  on  our  coasts." 
St.  Sh.  28. 

Chiton  ruber,  G.  Stomachs  of  fishes,  W.  Mr.  True  finds 
this  species  to  be  the  most  abundant  of  any  of  the  Chi- 
tons on  our  beaches. 

Cingula  minuta,  G.   Lynn  beaches,  Tr. 

Cochlodesma  Leana,  Couth.  Anatina  Leana,  Conrad.  G. 
In  a  living  condition  at  Point  beach,  Lynn,  Tr. 

Columbella  Gouldiana  ?  "Ag.  Ms."  St.  Sh.  48.  Lynn 
beaches,  among  the  roots  of  kelp.  (Laminaria  Sp.)  Tr. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  129 

Cumingia  tellinoides,  G.     One  living  specimen  in  tide-mill 
pond,  Salern,  Tr. 

Cyclas  dubia,  G.   Lynn,  P. 

Cyclas  partumeia,  G.  Lynn,  P.  Salem,  Tr. 

Dentatium  dentale,  G.     Marblehead   harbor  by   dredging 
fifteen  to  twenty  fathoms.    W.     Lynn  beaches,  Tr. 

Fusus  decemcostatus,  G.     Off  Nahant,  T.  &  H.  St.  Sh.  46. 
Fusus  harpularius,  G.     Dredged  at  Lynn,  T. — Salem,   W. 

St.  Sh.  49.     Near  Nahant,  Couth.   G.  291. 
Fusus  Islandicus,  G.    Tritonium  Islandicum,  Loven.    Off 

Lynn,  T.  &  H.  St.  Sh.  46. — Also  Variety  pygmaeus,    G. 

Trytonium  pygmceum,  St.  Sh.  46.     Salem  harbor.  W. 


HELICES.  The  following  list  of  Helix  proper  was  fur- 
nished by  Mr.  S.  Tufts,  jr.  He  detected  all  the  species  on 
wooded  hill  sides  fronting  a  southern  aspect  at  Swampscot, 
Lynn.  Mr.  True  has  found  the  same  in  the  limits  of  Sa- 
lem, with  one  or  two  other  species. 

Helix  albolabris,  G. 

Helix  alternata,  G. 

Helix  arborea,  G. 

Helix  electrina,  G. 

Helix  exigua,  G. 

Helix  hortensis,  G.  Helix  subglobosa,  Binney,  Bost. 
Journ.,  vol  I.  pi.  17.  On  Eagle  Island,  Salem  harbor, 
occurring  abundantly  with  H.  H.  alternata  and  albola- 
bris. 

Helix  indentata,  G. 

Helix  labyrinthica,  G. 

Helix  lineata,  G. 

Helix  minuscula,  G. 

Helix  pulchella,  G. 

Helix  chersina,  G.     Salem,  Tr, 

Helix  Sp.     Salem,  Tr. 


]  30  Shells  found  in  FJsscx  County. 

Kellia  rubra,  G.    On  various  species  of  sea  -weeds  (Algx) 
in  summer,  abundant,  Lynn  beaches,  Tr. 

Leda  limatula,  St.  Salem  harbor,   W.  St.  Sh.  10.      Lynn 

beaches.  Tr. 

Leda  myalis,  St.  Nucula — G.     Lynn  beaches,  P. 
Leda  sapotilla,  St,  Nucula — G.  Salem  harbor,  W. 


Limnceadct.  Mr.  True  has  found  the  following  species  of 
this  order  near  Salem,  within  its  limits:  and  nearly  all 
the  same  have  also  been  detected  by  Dr.  Prescott,  in 
Lynn. 

Ancylus  fuscus,  G. 

Limnsea  columella,  G. 
Limnsea  elodes,  G. 
Limnsea  macrostoma,  G. 
Limnsea  modicellus,  G. 
Limnsea  umbilicata,  G. 

Planorbis  armigerus,  G. 
Planorbis  bicarinatus,  G. 
Planorbis  campanulatus,  G. 
Planorbis  deflectus,  G. 
Planorbis  exacutus,  G. 
Planorbis  elevatus,  G. 
Planorbis  hirsutus,  G. 
Planorbis  lentus,  G. 

Physa  ancillaria,  G. 

Physa  elongata,  G.     Lynn,  T. 

Physa  heterostropha,  G. 


Lucina  radula,  G.    Single  valves  on  Lynn  beaches,  Tr, 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  131 

Mactra  lateral  is,  G.      Abundant  in  the  muddy  bottom  of 

the  tide-mill  pond,  Salem,  W. 
Margarita  arctica,  G.    Salem,  Tr. 
Margarita   argentata,    G.      Off  Cape   Ann.     Gould,   256. 

Lynn  beaches,  Tr. 
Margarita  obscura,  G.     Beverly  harbor,  Agassiz.     Off  Egg 

Rock,  near  Nahant,  T.  &.  H.     St.  Sh.  31. 
Margarita  undulata,  G.     Alive  on  Phillip's  beach,  Gould, 

254. 

Menestho  albula,  St.  Pyramis  striatula,  Couth.  Vicinity 
of  Cape  Ann,  Couthouy.  Gould,  269.  Off  Baker's 
Island,  Wheatland,  St.  Sh.  40. 

Mesodesma  arctata,  G.  Off  Nahant,  Gould  57.  Abun- 
dant at  Plumb  Island,  near  Newburyport,  W. 

Nassa  trivittata,  Say.  Buccinum  trivittatum,  G.  In  abun- 
dance at  Phillip's  beach  in  a  living  condition.  Dr.  Pres- 
cott,  Gould  309. 

Natica  flava,  G.     One  specimen,  Salem,  Tr. 

Natica  immaculata,  G.  Salem  harbor,  W.     St.  Sh.  43. 

Natica  pusilla,  G.  Stomachs  of  fishes  off  Half-way  rock,W. 

Nncula  delphinodonta,  Mighels.  Off  Cape  Ann,  St.  in 
Bost.  Proc.  iv.  13. 

Osteodesma  Hyalina,  G.     Salem,  Tr. 

Paludina  decisa,  G.  Common  in  ponds  and  fresh  water 
streams  in  Essex  County. 

Pandora  trilineata,  G.  Beaches  at  low  water,  W.  In  a 
living  condition,  Lynn  beaches,  Tr. 

Pecten  Magellanicus,  G.  Orne's  Point  and  Beverly  Bar,W. 
Philine  formosa,  St.  in  Bost.  Proc.  iii.  334.      Off  Cape  Ann. 

Pleurotoma  bicarinata,  G.  Off  Nahant,  Couthouy.  Lynn, 
Dr.  Prescott.  Gould,  281, 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County. 

Plerotoma  violacea,  St.  in  Bost.  Proc.  iv.  17.     Muddy  bot- 
tom of  Salem  harbor. 

Pupa  curvidens,  G,     Phillips'  Point,  Lynn,  Gould  189. 

Rissoa  eburnea,  St.  in  Bost.  Proc.  iv.  15.     Two  specimens 

in  thirty  fathoms,  off  Cape  Ann. 
Rissoa  multilineata,  St.  in  Bost.  Proc.  1.  c.    Dredged  in  five 

fathoms  off  Great  Misery  Island  (Salem)  and  also  near 

Nahant. 
Rissoa  pelagica,  St.      Cingula  semicostata,    Mighels,    Bost. 

Journ.   iv.   49.     Somewhat  abundant   in  deep  water  off 

Cape  Ann.     St.  Sh.  Bost.  Proc.  iv.  15. 

Scalaria  Groenlandica,  G.     Off  Nahant,  T.  &  H.  St.    Sh. 

39,  stomachs  of  fishes,  Salem  harbor,  W.  Lynn  beaches, 

Tr. 
Scalaria  Novanglise,  Couth.,  Bost.  Journ.  ii.  96.  pi.  3.  f.  5. 

A  single  specimen  off  Cape  Ann,  Couth.  1.  c. 

Serpula  vermicularis,  G.  Lynn,  P.  Beaches  at  Lynn,  on 
the  smaller  sea  weeds,  Tr. 

Solemya  velum,  G.  Salem  and  Lynn,  Tr.  See  Stimp- 
son's  "  Shells  of  New  England,"  p.  21,  for  an  account  of 
the  habits  of  this  animal. 

Solen  ensis,  L.     Shores  Lynn,  Salem,  &c. 

Spirorbis  sinistrorsa,  G.     Abundant  on  Fuci.   &c.,   Salem, 

Tr. 
Spirorbis  spirillum,  G.     On  algae,  Lynn,  Tr. 

Succinea  campestris,  G.     Salem,  Russell. 
Succinea  ovalis,  G.  Salem,  Russell. 

Terebratula  septentrionalis,  G.    Salem  harbor,  not  rare, W. 

Teredo  dilatata,  St.  in  Bost.  Proc.  iii.  113.  In  floating 
wood,  such  as  buoys  at  Marblehead  and  Lynn,  T. 

Thracia  truncata,  Mighels.  Deep  water  off  Lynn,  T.  St. 
in  Bost.  Proc.  iv.  13. 


Shells  found  in  Essex  County.  133 

Turritella    acicula,    St.     From    fishes  caught   off  Lynn, 
Tufts  ;  also  off  Cape  Ann.     St.  in  Bost.  Proc.  iv.  16. 

Turritella  areolata,  St.     From  fishes  off  Cape  Ann,  St.   in 
Bost.  Proc.  iv.  16. 

Velutina  haliotoides,   Moller.      Beverly  harbor,    Agassiz. 
St.  in  Bost.  Proc.  iv.  44. 

Velutina  zonata,  G.    From  stomachs  of  fishes  off  Half-way 
Rock,  W.  Lynn,  Tr. 


NOTE. 

HYLODES  PICKEBINGII.  This  beautiful  native  reptile  first  described  and 
figured  by  Dr.  Holbrook,  in  his  North  American  Herpetology,  will  be  found 
to  be  described  under  an  incorrect  name,  viz:  (Hyla  femoralis,  var.  c.) 
See  p.  93.  The  Genus  Hylodes  was  separated  from  Hyla  by  Zitzenger,  on 
account  of  the  absence  of  a  sternum  (breastbone)  as  in  the  true  Hyla.  Dr. 
CHARLES  PICKERING,  formerly  of  this  city,  discovered  it,  in  this  vicinity,  several 
years  ago,  and,  as  a  new  species,  it  has  been  dedicated  to  him ;  a  tribute  of 
scientific  respect. 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Page- 

Act  of  Incorporation 
Address  before  the  Society 

25 

5 

Ascription  of  Hyla 
dolomite 

96 

86 

Agriculture  connected  with  Natural 

donations  (1836) 

87 

History 

17 

)onors  to  Library 

80 

Albicore 

121 

Dru  Drury  Mr.  (note) 

107 

Alphabetical  List  of  County  Mol- 

lusca 

110 

£arly  Flower  Exhibitions 

7 

Amygdaloid  trap 
Argillaceous  Slate 

84 
79 

Scheneis  albicauda 
^chium  vulgare 

125 

98 

Asbestos 

89 

^hrenberg  (note) 

15 

Atrichum  angustatum 

120 

Smys  punctata 

95 

^pidotc 

87,89 

Bacomyces  roseua 

99 

?,psom  Salts 

85 

Balanus  ovularis 

123 

ixtra  price  for  an  insect 

103 

Bass  rock 

86 

Bichat  on  Anatomy 

16 

familiar  Notice  of  Shells,  &c. 

47 

Borrera  furfuracea 

99 

Felspar 

88 

Brecciated  porphyry 

83 

Filefish 

122 

Bye-Laws 

28 

Fluate  of  Lime 

85 

Foraminiferae 

121 

Cacicus  ingens 

103 

Fossil  vegetation 

16 

Calcareous  spar 

86 

Fructification  of  Zostera 

97-125 

Caranx  defensor 

124 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia 
Catalogue  of  Library  (1836) 

86 
S3 

Gneiss 
Goliathus  Drurii 

78 
103 

Cetonia 

102 

G.  giganteus 

104 

Cetonia  cacicus 

104 

G.  maximus  (note) 

102 

Cetonia  polyphemus 

107 

G.  princeps 

104 

Cetraria  Islandica 

99 

G.  regius 

104 

Chara  vulgaris 

96 

Granite 

78 

Chalcedony 

87 

Greasy  quartz 

86 

Chlorite 

90 

Greenstone 

81 

Chlorite  Slate 

90 

Cladonia  Boryi 

126 

Harris  on  African  beetles 

101 

Cladonia  Floerkeana 

100 

Hegemon 

105 

Cladonia  gracilis  variety  clongata 

126 

Heg.  Drurii 

107 

Cladonia  rangiferina 
Cladonia  uncialis                     100, 

100 
125 

Hemdurgan 
Hope  on  Goliathiada1 

124 

106 

Committees 

29 

Horsemackerel 

124 

Compact  felspar 
Conspectus  of  Essex  Co.  Shells 

89 
126 

Hyla  Pickeringii                                 93 
««            "                      and  note  133 

Constitution 

26 

Copper 
Crystal  Beach 

91 

87 

Importance  of  minuti^ 
Insect  paste  board  (note) 

19 
20 

Cyclosis 

96 

Iron 

91 

Datholite 

86 

Jasper 

87 

Derbyshire  Spar 

85 

Index. 


135 


Labradoritc 

Lead 

Leptocephalus  gracilis 

Library 

Lyonnet 

Manganese 

Magnesian  Carb.  lime 

Magnesian  Serpentine 

Magnolia 

Mecynorhina 

Meeting  at  Topsfield 

Metals 

Mica 

Monocanthos  aurantiacua 

Natica  heros  noticed 
Natural  Lace  (note) 
Natural  history  easy 
Nautilacce 
Nichols  on  Hyla 
Nichols  on  rare  toads 
Nonioninoc 
Norway  haddock 
Notice  of  rare  plants 

Officers  (1833-1837) 
Origin  of  the  Society 
Ornithorynchus 

Peeping  frog 

Pogonatum  brcvicaule 

Polythalamia 

Polytrichum  commune 

P.  gracile 

P.  juniperinum 

P.  piliferum 

Porphyry 

Prase 

Prehnite 

Prionotus 

P.  lineatus 

P.  pileatus 

Puudingstonc 

Quartz 
HuiuqueloculitKi 


Page. 

Page, 

89    Rana  fontinalis 

95 

91 

Rare  fishes 

122 

123 

Red  Rock 

83 

8 

Remarks  on  Hyla 

93 

15 

Rosefish 

124 

Rotalia 

122 

90 

Rhomb  Spar 

86 

86 

89 

Sand  of  the  Desert 

122 

7 
107 

Scaphiopus 
first  appearance  of 

113 
114 

6 

time  of  spawning 

116 

91 

Schorl 

89 

88 

Sea  wrack 

125 

122 

Sebastes  Norvegicus 

124 

Shells 

49 

112 

Ship  Rock                                 109 

,  120 

20 

Sienite 

79 

11 

Siliceous  Breccia 

83 

122 

Snapper 

124 

93 

Southern  Caranx 

124 

113 

Species  of  Hegemon 

105 

122   Sticta  crocata 

99 

124 

S.  pulmonacea 

99 

96 

Swell  fish 

124 

32 

Tetraodon 

124 

6 

Thynnus  vulgaris 

123 

8 

Unio  complanatus,  its  localities 

113 

94 
119 

Unique  specimen 
Utricularia  inflata 

107 
99 

121 

118 

Vaccinium  vitis  Idaoa 

125 

119 

Varioloid  wacke  (note) 

84 

119 
119 

Verd  antique  marble 
Very  old  trees  (note) 

84 
21 

82 

oa 

Vespertilio  pruinosus 

76 

80 

89 

Willis'  Hill 

83 

124 

Woodend 

91 

124 

124 

Yellow  Quartz 

86 

8 

Zostera  marina 

125 

86 

122 

ERRATA, 

Page  46.  Line  1 — for  have  read  has . 

47.  13— dele  the  comma. 

48.  1— after  Latin  insert  a  comma. 

49.  27 — after  being  insert  often. 

02.  23 — after  solid  issima,  insert  a  period 

52.  27— for  Du  read  Dr. 

53.  1 — for  variety  a  read  variety ',  a. 
53.  18 — at  its  close  insert  a  period. 

55.  31— for  the  semicolon  substittite  a  comma. 

57.  22 — for  vary  read  variety. 

63.  1 — for  peircer  read  piercer. 

71.  8—  after  short  insert  a  comma. 

75.  1 — for  Montague  read  Montagu. 

S2.  2 — for  occurs  read  occur. 

88.  30 — after  Feldspar  dele  the  comma. 

93.  7 — after  calyptra  insert  a. 

99.  16— for  Aurata  read  Crocala. 

100.  22 — for  bacillaris  read  Floerkeana. 

113.  12— for  Trichotropris  read  Tricholropis. 

117.  16 — for  aud  read  and. 

117.  Third  line  from  bottom  for  foliages  read  foliage 

118.  Fourth  line  from  bottom  for  sizes  read  size. 

119.  10— for  formed  read  famed. 

119.  18— for  Brylogia  read  Bryologia. 

120.  Twelfth  line  from  bottom  for  exclusicely  read  exclusively. 

121.  10 — for  huundred  read  hundred. 

125.  14 — for  Vaccinum  read  Vaccinium. 

126.  3— for  BOREGI.    Tuckerman  read  BORYI  of  Tuckerman 

127.  18— for  Cothouy  read  Couthouy. 
129.  6— for  Dentatium  read  Dentalium 
129.  13— for  Trytonium  read  Trilonium. 


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